A Base Tender, from the Talk of the Diamond set (N135) issued by Duke Sons & Co., a branch of the American Tobacco Company 1888

"A Base Tender" is a humorous lithograph from the "Talk of the Diamond" series of trading cards issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co., a branch of the American Tobacco Company. Printed in 1888, the card depicts a baseball player standing near a base, while a man in a suit, with a humorous expression, purchases a cigar from a tobacco shop. The card's playful, cartoon-like style and its connection to the popular sport of baseball would have been appealing to a wide audience in the late 19th century. The image highlights the connection between tobacco products and popular culture in the United States. The card exemplifies the use of trade cards as a marketing tool during this period, employing a combination of humor and visual interest to promote the company's "Honest Long Cut" tobacco.