Bill George, Pitcher, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This baseball card of Bill George, a pitcher for New York, was printed by Goodwin & Company in 1887 as a promotional item for Old Judge Cigarettes. These cards reflect the growing commercialization of leisure and the rising popularity of baseball in the late 19th century. Mass-produced and distributed with consumer goods, they blurred the lines between sport, advertising, and popular culture. Note how the card is copyrighted, marking a new era where even images of everyday life were subject to intellectual property laws. The mass-marketing of baseball stars also contributed to the development of celebrity culture, transforming athletes into public figures with endorsements and commercial appeal. To understand the significance of these cards, historians consult trade publications, advertising archives, and early baseball records. These shed light on the complex interplay of commerce, sport, and society in shaping cultural values. This humble baseball card reminds us that art and culture are always contingent on the social and institutional context in which they are created and consumed.