Kilroy, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This card, part of the Old Judge series by Goodwin & Company, captures a sepia-toned image of Kilroy, a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. The composition is dominated by Kilroy's figure, caught mid-pitch, his form creating a dynamic diagonal line across the card. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the tones and textures. The soft focus flattens the space, reducing depth and directing our attention to the interplay between the textures of his uniform, the ball, and the blurred backdrop. This flattening effect is not merely aesthetic; it challenges traditional notions of representation by collapsing foreground and background. The card's semiotic function extends beyond mere representation. As a collectible, it signifies value, fandom, and cultural memory. The act of collecting and categorizing these cards mirrors broader structuralist impulses, where meaning is derived from the relationships between objects within a system.