John A. "Cub" Stricker, 2nd Base, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This is “John A. "Cub" Stricker, 2nd Base, Cleveland,” a baseball card from the Old Judge series, produced by Goodwin & Company. These cards were distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes, reflecting a time when tobacco companies ingeniously intertwined their products with popular culture. During the late 19th century, baseball's burgeoning popularity mirrored America's own growth and industrialization. These cards not only promoted smoking but also celebrated a very specific kind of masculinity, athleticism, and idealized American identity, often sidelining or completely ignoring the contributions and presence of women and people of color in the sport. Consider the cigarette card itself, a small material object, and consider its circulation in the pockets of everyday people. It played a role in shaping societal values and consumer culture. The card serves as a poignant reminder of how deeply ingrained these forms of representation were and perhaps still are in our society.