Charles Comiskey, Baseball Player, from World's Champions, Series 1 (N28) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1887

This is a baseball card of Charles Comiskey, produced by Allen & Ginter Cigarettes as part of the World's Champions series. These cards, popular in the late 19th century, were designed to be collected and traded, reflecting the rising popularity of sports and celebrity culture. The card is evocative of its time, when the burgeoning tobacco industry used these cards as marketing tools to build brand awareness. Comiskey, as depicted here, becomes a symbol of American athleticism and the commercialization of sports. The image, with its idealized portrayal of Comiskey, also speaks to the construction of masculine identity during this period, emphasizing strength, skill, and the competitive spirit. But it also makes me think of the dangers of tobacco! There is a tension, I feel, between the celebration of physical prowess and the promotion of a product detrimental to health.