James Newton "Jesse" Duryea, Pitcher, Cincinnati, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888 - 1889

Goodwin & Company produced this image of James Newton "Jesse" Duryea, a pitcher for Cincinnati, as part of the Old Judge series for cigarettes. Produced in an era defined by industrial expansion and shifting social norms, baseball emerged as a unifying cultural phenomenon. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, offer a glimpse into the marketing strategies of the time, subtly linking athleticism with habits increasingly understood as health hazards. Duryea, like other athletes of his time, was transformed into a commodity, his image used to promote consumption. The sepia tone lends the image a nostalgic air, yet it also speaks to the limited representational technologies available, raising questions about visibility and erasure. As we consider Duryea’s image, we might reflect on whose stories are told and how they are remembered, or forgotten, in the vast archive of history.