Elmer Ellsworth Foster, Center Field, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: So, we’re looking at “Elmer Ellsworth Foster, Center Field, New York,” from 1888. It’s a baseball card, part of the “Old Judge” series. It seems almost sepia-toned now. It’s a gelatin silver print. It shows a baseball player posed mid-throw. It looks…almost staged? How should we interpret it? Curator: Staged absolutely. These weren't action shots; they were carefully crafted portraits designed for mass consumption. What’s crucial to understand here is how these cards functioned within a specific social context: the rise of consumer culture, baseball's growing popularity, and the aggressive marketing of tobacco. Editor: So it was primarily an advertising piece? Curator: Precisely. Consider the very explicit connection between Elmer Foster, a professional athlete, and “Old Judge Cigarettes”. Goodwin & Company leveraged the rising popularity of baseball to push their product. And think about the implications. These images circulated widely, shaping public perceptions of athletes and implicitly endorsing smoking. What sort of image of baseball were they hoping to project? Editor: A wholesome one, maybe? But juxtaposed with cigarettes, that’s a little contradictory. The name "Old Judge" sort of lends an air of old-fashioned credibility or something? It’s like they're trying to build a tradition around both the sport and the cigarette brand. Curator: Exactly! They are constructing and selling not just a product, but also a lifestyle, a vision of American masculinity and leisure connected to both baseball and tobacco. We can even discuss the role of the collector here. They played an integral role in disseminating these values. Editor: Wow, I hadn't considered all of that! It really shifts how you see something that seems so simple at first glance. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. The power of images often lies in their historical and social function, revealing much more than their mere visual content. A photograph speaks volumes.