Mortimer Edward Hogan, Right Field, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Editor: Here we have a baseball card, "Mortimer Edward Hogan, Right Field, Cleveland," from around 1887 to 1890, part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. It's attributed to Goodwin & Company. Initially, it feels very staged to me, like a painted backdrop, rather than a snapshot of a real game. What’s your read on it? Curator: It feels like stepping back in time, doesn't it? Look at Hogan’s focused gaze; there's a sense of determination there, like he’s channeling all the energy of the stadium into that bat. Now, imagine him not just as an athlete but as a kind of folk hero, captured at the dawn of baseball's widespread popularity. Editor: That's an interesting point, a "folk hero." I hadn't considered that. What do you make of the backdrop and how it might impact that reading? Curator: Well, think about ukiyo-e prints—that Japanese floating world aesthetic—mixed with early realism. This almost theatrical backdrop flattens the space, pushing Hogan forward. This blend creates a sense of both realness and idealized representation. He's a man, yes, but also a symbol. Almost like how brands elevate spokespeople today. Do you get a similar feeling? Editor: I do. It's like a stage setting, creating an image, more than portraying a scene. And I notice that the sepia tones contribute to that historic feel, don't they? Curator: Precisely! And those tones, for me, whisper stories of long-gone summers, echoing with the cheers of the crowd, the crack of the bat. And also cigarettes… advertising! It all melts together into a powerful sensory time capsule. This makes me think: How might we capture *our* sports heroes in ways that are so distinctly “of the moment” yet so enduring? Editor: It definitely gives you something to ponder! Thanks for shining light on how much can be discovered within this card, bridging a baseball game and portraiture with such evocative results!