Conway, Pitcher, Boston, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is a baseball card of Conway, a pitcher for Boston, from the Old Judge series, produced by Goodwin & Company. It gives us a glimpse into the cultural landscape of late 19th-century America, where baseball was becoming a national pastime and the burgeoning tobacco industry found a novel way to market its products. These cards were originally inserted into cigarette packs, incentivizing consumers to collect entire sets. The act of collecting these cards speaks to a desire for representation and visibility within the mainstream culture. The players, often working-class men, became symbols of aspiration, embodying ideals of athleticism and success in a rapidly changing society. Yet, these images also reinforce the racial biases of the time. While some teams included African American players before the color line was firmly drawn in the late 1880s, these cards rarely reflect that diversity, thus shaping a narrative of American sports that often excludes marginalized communities. Consider how this seemingly simple image can reveal complex dynamics of identity and power within American culture.