Dan Dugdale, Catcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: So, this is an 1888 print of Dan Dugdale, a catcher for the Chicago Maroons. It's part of the "Old Judge" series, made by Goodwin & Company for cigarette cards. The paper looks really fragile. There's something hauntingly still about him, like a moment suspended in time, don't you think? What grabs you when you look at it? Curator: Hauntingly still... I love that! It does have that quality, doesn't it? Like we’ve stumbled into a sepia-toned dream. What grabs me? Well, first, the context is everything. Think about it, the late 1880s. Baseball was just finding its feet, a gritty, unpolished gem of a sport. This image is an early form of advertising, tying something wholesome – sport – to, well, cigarettes. A real reflection of the times! What do you think it meant to immortalize Dugdale like this, on something so fleeting? Editor: I guess it's kind of contradictory, like capturing something permanent on a really ephemeral thing. Were these cards considered collectible even then? Curator: That's the delicious irony! Perhaps not *art* collectibles, not in the museum sense, but absolutely treasures for baseball fans, a tangible connection to their heroes. They’re a bit like tiny, paper time capsules, wouldn't you say? Look at the lighting, the staged background; it's trying to be both a portrait and a moment captured in action. Failed wonderfully, in my opinion! Editor: That tension is fascinating, especially knowing they were stuck in cigarette packs! I’ll definitely be looking at those vintage ads differently now. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It’s all about digging a little deeper, isn’t it? See what unexpected stories tumble out.