Crocan, Center Field, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Curator: Here we have "Crocan, Center Field, Chicago" from the Old Judge series of baseball cards, published in 1888 by Goodwin & Company. It's a sepia-toned image of a baseball player in the field. Editor: My first impression is one of stillness, an odd calmness given it’s supposed to represent action. The soft focus and limited tonal range almost feel like a memory. Curator: Indeed, it captures a nascent moment in baseball's professionalization. These cards were originally inserts in cigarette packs, promoting the Old Judge brand. What does it evoke in you, beyond the sepia? Editor: It's interesting to consider how these images helped construct a very particular image of masculinity and athleticism during this era, reflecting—and solidifying—social ideals regarding class, race, and the burgeoning celebrity culture. Baseball's increasing popularity certainly fueled this. Curator: Absolutely, the photographic style, drawing from pictorialism, elevated the subjects, lending them a certain prestige, a romantic ideal. I feel as though they’re attempting to freeze and sanctify this very ephemeral moment in sporting history. Editor: It does make you think about the players, their hopes, and their lived realities, right? But I also find myself questioning who was included—and excluded—from this narrative. These images were distributed and consumed in ways that shaped public opinion and confirmed social hierarchies, solidifying white masculinity at the center of American sporting culture. Curator: That's such a crucial point to keep in mind. I appreciate the nuance you bring, especially thinking about how the very act of collecting and distributing these cards wasn't innocent at all. Editor: Thank you. It really underscores how every artifact, even one as seemingly simple as a baseball card, carries layers of meaning far beyond its face value. Curator: Leaving us with a more complete appreciation, I feel, for a card, a career, and the broader canvas of a society coming into sharper focus, one sepia-toned picture at a time.