Samuel Luther "Sam" Thompson, Right Field, Detroit Wolverines, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is a photographic baseball card of Samuel Luther "Sam" Thompson, right fielder for the Detroit Wolverines, made in 1887 by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. What does it mean to find this artifact in a museum like this one? In the late 19th century, the burgeoning popularity of baseball met the rise of consumer culture. Cigarette companies like Old Judge sought new ways to market their products, and baseball cards became a popular premium. This card, mass-produced and distributed with cigarettes, speaks to the intertwining of sport, commerce, and leisure in American society. These cards weren't just about the players; they were about selling a lifestyle, a vision of American masculinity centered on athleticism and consumption. To understand this image fully, we can consult advertising history, sports archives, and even census data to uncover the complex social fabric of the time. The meaning of art always depends on its social and institutional context.