William Ellsworth "Dummy" Hoy, Center Field, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Editor: Here we have an albumen print from between 1887 and 1890, featuring William Ellsworth "Dummy" Hoy. It's part of the Old Judge series. I’m struck by the sepia tone and how it captures this baseball player, crouched down, ready for the game. What’s your take on this, considering the social context of the time? Curator: It’s compelling to see this image within the landscape of 19th-century America. Consider the mass production of such images paired with the rise of professional baseball. How did it influence societal perceptions of athletes, particularly those from marginalized communities, given Hoy's identity as a deaf player? Editor: That’s a side I had not thought about. The image feels so straightforward, almost like a simple portrait of an athlete. How does the format of a baseball card play into the bigger picture? Curator: Precisely. These cards weren't merely celebratory; they were promotional tools linked to industries like tobacco. Examining this work through a critical lens unveils power dynamics inherent in representation. Who gets represented? What stories are told? Also, why pair images of sports stars to vices such as smoking? It raises ethical questions. How do you see Hoy fitting into these intersectional concerns? Editor: I see it now. It’s a really sharp contrast, considering we now associate athleticism with healthy living. I guess this brings up a whole range of new meanings for me, reflecting on advertising tactics and who they targeted then, and the cultural norms they reinforced. Thanks for sharing that. Curator: Of course. It's vital to dissect the layers of history imprinted within an image like this. It makes you reflect on how far we have come with ethics in advertisements.