James William "Jim" Keenan, Catcher, Cincinnati, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a photographic print of baseball player Jim Keenan, made in the United States around 1888 by Goodwin & Company, as part of their "Old Judge" series for cigarette packaging. The image gives us a window into the commercialization of leisure and sport in late 19th-century America. Baseball, rapidly growing in popularity, was cleverly linked to the consumption of tobacco. The picture card featuring Keenan, a catcher for Cincinnati, uses the visual language of celebrity to promote both the player and the cigarette brand. Note the backdrop that mimics a formal portrait. This reflects a desire to elevate baseball players to the status of public figures. This card's existence reveals how institutions of business and sport shape cultural values. To understand the image better, we can delve into research on the history of baseball, advertising, and the tobacco industry in America. The meaning of this seemingly simple baseball card is contingent on understanding these social and institutional contexts.