Michael "Silent Mike" Joseph Tiernan, Right Field, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This baseball card from 1887, produced by Goodwin & Company, features Michael "Silent Mike" Joseph Tiernan, made as a promotional insert for Old Judge Cigarettes. The card itself is a photograph, likely albumen print, a process popular in the late 19th century for its fine detail and sepia tone. Consider the industrial context: photography enabled mass reproduction, and tobacco companies harnessed this technology to promote their product. Each card, small and seemingly insignificant, represents a convergence of industrial processes: from the manufacture of photographic paper and chemicals to the printing and distribution networks that placed these cards into the hands of consumers. The image immortalizes Tiernan, fixing him in a moment of athletic prowess, yet it simultaneously reduces him to a marketing tool. It reflects how popular culture, celebrity, and commerce became intertwined in this era. This card challenges our notions of art versus ephemera. It compels us to consider the cultural and economic forces that shape our visual world.