Baldwin, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Curator: Here we have an albumen print from 1887, a baseball card of Baldwin, a pitcher for the Chicago team. It was produced by Goodwin & Company as part of the "Old Judge Cigarettes" series. Editor: It has a sepia-toned, ghostly feel. His uniform appears heavy, almost like wool. You can see every stitch, every fold. The background is vaguely defined, a hazy approximation of a ballfield. Curator: These cards were a form of early advertising, often included in cigarette packs. The material production, from the growing of tobacco to printing the image, intersects with ideas about consumption, celebrity, and the burgeoning baseball industry. Editor: It is interesting that the cards’ physicality allowed fans to actually possess, trade, and engage with images of these figures. Today, they are rare and collectible objects that connect us to a very different material culture. Curator: The card also reveals a fascinating glimpse into the late 19th century American sporting scene. Baldwin’s presence speaks to the developing concepts of athletic identity and the marketing strategies that began to build around such figures. Consider who had access to these early forms of fame, who was excluded, and the implications that has for celebrity and sport today. Editor: Indeed. Examining the printing process tells us so much about accessibility. Albumen prints were relatively common, signifying the growing consumer base for both baseball and cigarettes. Curator: It's compelling to consider these cards as an early form of social currency, used to construct and reflect identity. Editor: Right, the act of collecting, the exchange of images. Curator: Studying these material traces from the past challenges our assumptions about visibility, access, and who is remembered. Editor: It is also important to acknowledge the way it also normalizes practices like smoking through cultural props like sport. I find it fascinating how material culture intersects with so many layers of production, celebrity and even political life.