Smith, Shortstop, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Curator: What a compelling artifact! We are looking at an 1888 print titled "Smith, Shortstop, Brooklyn Bridegrooms," part of the Old Judge series created for Old Judge Cigarettes, currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is credited to Goodwin & Company. The sepia tone and the posture of the player speak volumes! Editor: Yes, there’s an immediate sense of old-time stoicism here. He looks ready to spring. I love the simplicity of it—it feels direct and honest, like a snapshot of working-class leisure. But tell me more about those cigarettes… Curator: The series was ingenious—a method of embedding sports figures within the fabric of daily life and consumerism. These cards not only advertised a product but they created a sense of connection between the players and their fans. There’s a fascinating dialogue at play, reinforcing masculinity, athleticism and citizenship all tied into smoking. Editor: That dialogue is powerful. The symbolism runs deep. Think of the "Brooklyn Bridegrooms" – even the name carries this potent image of marriage, the foundation of society! But what does it say that our sports heroes are packaged with a known carcinogen? Curator: Right. The association creates an implied social currency through the brand. And the portraits themselves – made as prints to be affordable, mass-produced ephemera— elevated these sportsmen to a sort of iconic status, becoming lasting mementos. It created and bolstered a sense of American identity. The tobacco companies helped cultivate what we might call sports culture today. Editor: Indeed, look at how baseball, at this moment in history, functioned to promote an idea of “American-ness.” And in the realm of art, how interesting to note how capitalist forces leveraged a craving and a leisure activity and commodified popular pastimes. How often the images that remain, remain thanks to commercial intentions. Curator: I find the gaze so enduring. Beyond the commercial endeavor, it captures a specific moment, enshrining a fleeting cultural fixation through this readily consumable token. It’s an insightful reminder how iconography pervades even the simplest aspects of our lives. Editor: Absolutely. It's remarkable to consider all these layers embedded within a small baseball card from 1888.