Pinkney, 3rd Base, Brooklyn, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This albumen silver print was produced around 1887 by Goodwin & Company, as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. It depicts Pinkney, a third baseman for the Brooklyn baseball team. These cards were originally included in cigarette packs as a marketing strategy. As baseball's popularity grew in the late 19th century, companies like Goodwin & Company sought to capitalize on this cultural phenomenon by associating their products with the sport. The image itself is a posed studio shot, carefully constructed to present Pinkney as a respectable and athletic figure. The commercialization of baseball through such cards reflects the growing influence of consumer culture and advertising in American society at the time. If we are to truly understand this artwork, we must consider the socio-economic context in which it was produced. In this case, research into the history of baseball, the tobacco industry, and the rise of advertising is invaluable. The meaning of art always remains contingent on social and institutional context.