William Wilson "Bill" Hallman, Catcher, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This late 19th-century photographic print by Goodwin & Company is part of the "Old Judge" series, which was distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes. It features William Wilson “Bill” Hallman, a catcher for Philadelphia. The late 1800s in America saw an increase in industrialization, urbanization, and immigration, influencing leisure activities like baseball and tobacco consumption. These baseball cards offer a lens through which we can examine the construction of celebrity and identity in a rapidly changing society. Hallman, immortalized in this card, becomes a figure of aspiration for fans, embodying ideals of masculinity and athleticism. These cards circulated widely, shaping perceptions and cultural values. What does it mean to collect and consume images of athletes in the context of emergent consumer culture? This image serves as a reminder of how deeply intertwined our cultural icons are with commerce and consumption.