John Charles "Jack" Rowe, Shortstop, Detroit Wolverines, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Editor: This is an 1887 photographic print titled "John Charles 'Jack' Rowe, Shortstop, Detroit Wolverines," made by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The sepia tones give it a nostalgic feel. I'm curious – what kind of deeper meaning might this image of a baseball player hold? Curator: Well, consider the cigarette brand it promoted: "Old Judge." Instantly, this links athleticism with notions of maturity, perhaps even authority, creating an aspirational symbol for consumers. Note, too, the almost classical portraiture style. The very formal pose is reminiscent of painted portraits of dignitaries. Goodwin and Company visually equates this baseball player with traditional figures of power and respect. What feelings do you have towards baseball today? Editor: I see what you mean. Baseball is a classic American sport, a cultural cornerstone really. To see it linked to something as potentially harmful as cigarettes does make me pause. So you are suggesting that this image is working as a status symbol for baseball fans? Curator: Precisely. Furthermore, consider what baseball itself symbolized in 1887: the rise of leisure culture, a new form of spectacle. Rowe isn't merely a player; he embodies a shift in American values, placing a higher emphasis on entertainment and, perhaps, fleeting pleasures. Do you see the brand’s symbolic play here now? Editor: I think so. The Old Judge cigarettes suggest old values or traditional appeal while showcasing a modern hero, the baseball player. Thanks; that perspective helps unpack how much these images were intended to communicate back then. Curator: Indeed. Each detail tells a story, weaving together consumerism, celebrity, and cultural aspirations, providing a peek into a bygone era.