Patrick E. "Pat" Pettee, 2nd Base, London Tecumsehs, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: Here we have a fascinating artifact: a Goodwin & Company print from 1888, titled "Patrick E. 'Pat' Pettee, 2nd Base, London Tecumsehs, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes." The sepia tones give it such a vintage feel. There's almost a melancholy air, wouldn’t you say? What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Melancholy, you say? Perhaps! Or maybe it’s just the wistful gaze of a ballplayer dreaming of the next home run. What catches my eye is the blatant connection between athletics and commerce. See, this wasn't just art; it was advertising! Think of it – using baseball cards to sell cigarettes. It’s such a peculiar blend of Americana, isn’t it? The glorification of sport intertwined with, shall we say, less-than-healthy habits! Does that contrast spark anything in your mind? Editor: It's so weird to think about baseball and cigarettes being tied together, like, advertising a world series with nicotine. Curator: Exactly! That inherent contradiction is part of what makes this image so compelling, don't you agree? On one hand, we have this clean-cut athlete, an aspirational figure. On the other, we have the subtle allure of Old Judge cigarettes promising a momentary escape, I suppose. Editor: So, this image, made for mass distribution and commerce, unintentionally captures a moment in social history? Curator: Precisely. These fleeting moments, packaged and sold, inadvertently become poignant cultural artifacts! Plus, can you imagine young fans eagerly collecting these cards, trading their heroes like currency? It’s like Pokémon cards, but with handlebar mustaches and a side of lung cancer! Editor: Wow, I’d never considered that angle. Seeing it as a tiny time capsule makes me appreciate it a lot more. Curator: Me too. It makes you consider, what snapshots of *our* present might shock future generations, in their historical assessment? Pretty heavy, eh?