Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey, 1st Base and Manager, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886 - 1890

This is a baseball card of Charles Albert "The Old Roman" Comiskey, a 1st baseman and manager for the St. Louis Browns, made by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. Produced in the late 19th century, this card exists within a cultural moment deeply shaped by industrialization and changing social hierarchies. Baseball, then as now, was more than just a sport, it offered a stage for narratives of American identity. Comiskey, immortalized here, occupies a space of idealized masculinity. His nickname evokes the Roman Empire, suggesting strength, leadership, and a connection to a glorious past. However, this card is also an advertisement, inextricably linked to the tobacco industry. The romanticized image of the ballplayer obscures the realities of labor, class, and the health consequences of cigarette use. Through this lens, the card reflects the complex interweaving of sport, commerce, and cultural values, inviting us to consider whose stories are being told and at what cost.