Mathews, Pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This vintage baseball card featuring Mathews, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics, was created by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. Produced at a time when baseball was rapidly gaining popularity, these cards served as both promotional items and collectibles, deeply entwined with the growth of consumer culture. Mathews, with his mustache and distinctive uniform, embodies an idealized version of masculinity. The image is carefully crafted, yet the backdrop seems almost generic, highlighting the way in which these cards functioned to create heroes out of ordinary men. These cards were exclusively marketed to men. What does it mean to create a whole genre of collectibles directed at one segment of the population and sold with products linked to addiction? Consider how the seemingly innocent image of a baseball player is connected to broader issues of gender, commerce, and representation in late 19th-century America.