Goodfellow, Catcher, Detroit Wolverines, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Curator: Looking at this albumen print, dating back to 1888, I'm immediately struck by its muted sepia tones, creating a dreamy, almost melancholic air around the ballplayer. It's called "Goodfellow, Catcher, Detroit Wolverines" from the "Old Judge" series. Editor: Melancholic? I see steadfastness, a kind of sturdy optimism. The way he holds his glove, ready... it speaks of anticipation. It's a moment frozen in time. You can see this was originally distributed as part of a cigarette packet. Can you tell me more about the social implications here? Curator: Absolutely. Goodwin & Company, the producers, aimed to tap into baseball's growing popularity. The "Old Judge" series served as a marketing strategy, embedding these idealized images of athletes within everyday consumerism. It democratized access to these sports heroes, while subtly promoting smoking habits, naturally. Editor: Sneaky and very of its time! It's interesting how the portrait aesthetic lends a certain dignity to the athlete. I imagine that these commercial cards could allow players that otherwise could not gain economic ascendency some visibility and opportunities to negotiate salaries and contracts, especially around race. Does Goodfellow exemplify the emerging baseball star of that era? Curator: Precisely. While this print flattens certain complexities, as commercial imagery often does, it contributes to constructing the figure of the modern athlete. Goodfellow embodies the ideal of hard work and grit. Editor: And yet, seeing him isolated against the muted background… you feel the weight of that singular expectation. He becomes a symbol, bigger than just a man ready to catch a ball. There is very little dynamism going on that gives it some stillness or even grief; there's only waiting... Curator: I hadn't considered that before, but you are right! I had only previously read it as a visual cue for resolution. Well, these cards certainly were effective since this one found its way to the MET. Editor: Yes, and to contemplate an artwork of the time and still see something completely new shows it does hold a mystery after all. Curator: Indeed. Thanks for the fresh perspective! Editor: Anytime, onward to the next gem, right?