Julius Benjamin "Julie" Freeman, Pitcher, Milwaukee, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This small card, made by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes, captures Julius Benjamin "Julie" Freeman, a pitcher for Milwaukee. Created in 1889, it reflects the burgeoning popularity of baseball and the marketing strategies of the time. These cards were originally inserts in cigarette packs, targeting a male demographic and linking leisure with consumption. Baseball, as a developing sport, was deeply interwoven with notions of masculinity, and the portrayal of Freeman reinforces this connection. His focused gaze and firm grip on the bat evoke determination and strength, qualities valorized in both sport and the cultural ideals of manhood. The image and its context also reveal societal values around commerce and celebrity. Freeman, immortalized on this card, becomes a symbol not just of athletic prowess but also of the intertwined nature of identity, marketing, and early consumer culture.