Dan Casey, Pitcher, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Curator: Let’s discuss this print titled “Dan Casey, Pitcher, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes”, made around 1887 by Goodwin & Company. It's part of a larger set of baseball player cards. Editor: It has a really striking, almost cinematic quality for something so old. The sepia tone gives it a vintage feel, and the composition with the figure almost breaking the picture plane adds a sense of dynamic action, wouldn’t you agree? Curator: Absolutely. These cards were hugely popular, feeding into the burgeoning culture of celebrity around athletes. Baseball was becoming "America's pastime," and companies like Old Judge Cigarettes used these cards as marketing tools. Imagine the impact of seeing your heroes outside of the ballpark! Editor: Right, and looking at the portrait, notice the strong diagonal created by Casey’s outstretched arm. His gaze is intense. There's an undeniable immediacy, as if he's confronting the viewer directly. His uniform also strikes me; it's interesting how such a simple design speaks so eloquently of its time. Curator: The uniform, along with other such imagery, helped to normalize and even glamorize sport. These cards circulated widely and contributed to a national image bank. And of course, we have to consider the association with cigarette use – what kind of messages was the confluence of sports figures and tobacco companies sending to younger audiences at the time? Editor: From a purely design perspective, it's intriguing how they balanced text and image on such a small format, how they created a frame of reference that still highlights and spotlights Casey’s stance in spite of those commercial necessities. I am also curious about the marks of age that render the piece that more precious, like those yellowish stains spread across the support. Curator: Precisely! It allows us to examine not just the art, but the complex societal values circulating. Thinking about today’s media environment and modern professional athlete endorsement deals... the resonances are powerful, and, in many ways, haunting. Editor: A brief visual statement of then, with complicated ramifications even now. An interesting way to spend some time.