Herman C. Long, Catcher, Kansas City Cowboys, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a promotional baseball card, printed by Goodwin & Company in 1888, featuring Herman C. Long, a catcher for the Kansas City Cowboys. These cards were included in packs of Old Judge Cigarettes, revealing the fascinating intersection of sports, advertising, and consumer culture in late 19th-century America. The image itself, though seemingly straightforward, reflects the growing popularity of baseball as a spectator sport and the strategies employed by businesses to capitalize on this trend. The commercialization of leisure activities was well underway and tobacco companies were prominent in advertising. To fully understand this image, one might delve into the history of baseball, the advertising industry, and the social norms surrounding tobacco use in the 1880s. What did the rise of baseball mean for American identity? What role did advertising play in shaping consumer desires? These are just some of the questions that can be explored when examining this seemingly simple baseball card.