Tener, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

Curator: This small but evocative print captures Tener, a pitcher for the Chicago team, around 1889. It comes from the Old Judge Cigarette series, produced by Goodwin & Company. It's interesting how photography and commerce intertwined even then. Editor: I find myself completely drawn in by the sepia tones, that worn look! There's something inherently melancholic about these old baseball cards, a forgotten grace. The way he’s posed, it's like he’s forever frozen in the act of throwing. Curator: These cards were incredibly popular. Imagine, collecting portraits of athletes along with your pack of cigarettes! It's fascinating to consider the socio-political implications; how these images contributed to the burgeoning cult of celebrity, even back then. The 'Old Judge' series really leveraged the growing popularity of baseball. Editor: He seems...intense. There’s something serious in his eyes. It feels more intimate than a posed publicity shot; like a stolen moment where he forgets the camera is even there. Curator: Indeed! These cards offered fans a new way to connect with players. Though mass-produced, each one acted as a mini-portrait, a portable piece of admiration for the star athletes. Notice the background is quite vague, focusing attention solely on Tener himself. The advertisement aspect of this, makes this a social document. Editor: Do you think he realized that someday, more than a century later, we’d be here, analyzing his image? Thinking about his game, the feel of the ball...it's odd to have that much of a connection with such a limited perspective of him. It’s an intense thing, the power that images hold across time. It’s very strange, being that this would probably wind up being disposed of like any other piece of litter back then. Curator: The Old Judge series holds significance not only as an early example of sports memorabilia but also for its depiction of athletes in a relatively natural, if staged, setting. Editor: Ultimately, what resonates is the human element: the pursuit of excellence, forever distilled into this weathered little rectangle. Makes you think. Curator: Yes, absolutely, a tangible connection to a bygone era, and a meditation on fame itself.