Henry, Pitcher, Philadelphia, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This albumen silver print of a baseball player, titled "Henry, Pitcher, Philadelphia," was created in 1888 by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. These cards emerged during a period of burgeoning commercialism and growing interest in baseball in the United States. The image uses the visual codes of the time, presenting Henry in a staged pitching pose, complete with a painted backdrop. This was common practice, reflecting the era’s photographic conventions, but also how the commercialized world of sports was managed at the time. Printed on cigarette cards, this image blurs the line between sport, celebrity culture, and advertising. Examining similar ephemera, advertisements, and the historical context of the time, we start to comprehend not only the evolution of baseball but also the rise of consumer culture. The careful study of these images, along with institutional records, helps us understand how these cultural products shaped American society.