T.C. Burns, 3rd Base, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Goodwin & Company produced this baseball card, featuring T.C. Burns, for Old Judge Cigarettes around 1888. Printed on a small paper rectangle, this card was made as a promotional item, tucked into cigarette packs to stiffen them. These cards used the relatively new technology of mass-produced photography. The sepia tones and slightly blurred image are characteristic of early photographic printing. Note the words “Old Judge Cigarette Factory” at the bottom: the card is as much an advertisement as a celebration of the sport or the player it represents. The image shows Burns in action, tagged out at third base. Consider the labor involved: not just the athletes on the field, but also the factory workers who churned out cigarettes and these cards, as well as the photographers and printers who created the image. This card, and others like it, challenge traditional notions of art. It exists as a collectible, a piece of memorabilia, and a historical document, blurring the boundaries between art, commerce, and everyday life.