John E. "Scrappy" Carroll, Right Field, St. Paul Apostles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This is John E. "Scrappy" Carroll, a right fielder for the St. Paul Apostles, immortalized in a baseball card made by Goodwin & Company in the late 19th century as part of their "Old Judge" series. These cards emerged during a period of burgeoning consumer culture and rising popularity of baseball. Predominantly white, the players strike heroic poses in contrast to the social realities of the time, marked by racial segregation and class disparities. What does it mean to see this figure of masculinity, this archetype of Americana, preserved on a small card, sold with cigarettes? These cards were both a celebration of athletic prowess and a commercial tool. They reflect an era where identity was being shaped and commodified through mass media, and where narratives of success and aspiration were often at odds with the lived realities of many. The history and identity of baseball are closely tied to American cultural ideals, and it is important to think about what is included and excluded from this history.