William Walter "Wally" Andrews, 1st Base, Omaha Omahogs/Lambs, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This baseball card of William Walter "Wally" Andrews, a first baseman for the Omaha Omahogs, was made by Goodwin & Company around 1889. It's from the "Old Judge" series, meant to be included in packs of Old Judge Cigarettes. Consider the material of this tiny portrait, a mass-produced card, and the reproductive technique of photography that enabled its creation. These cards were printed in vast quantities. Think of the labor that went into producing them, from the factory workers operating the printing presses, to those picking tobacco. These cards were designed to boost consumption, but also reflected the public's growing obsession with baseball, and with celebrity culture. We often celebrate sports stars for their individual prowess, but here, we can also think about the many hands involved in making an image that cemented Andrews' place in baseball history, and ask ourselves, who profits from this system?