Frank T. Gilmore, Pitcher, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This small photographic card, produced in 1888 by Goodwin & Company, features Frank T. Gilmore, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. It's fascinating to consider how this seemingly simple image connects to broader social and cultural trends of the late 19th century. The card exemplifies the rise of both baseball and consumer culture in America. Note how the figure of Gilmore, with his bat and uniform, became a commodity, used to promote cigarette sales. The pose, the typography and the inclusion of the copyright demonstrate the increasing sophistication of advertising strategies, the professionalisation of sport, and the commodification of celebrity. All of which were emergent aspects of the period. Historians of sport, advertising, and photography can delve into archives and period publications to uncover the complex interplay between commerce, leisure, and identity in the Gilded Age. This card reminds us that art, even in its most seemingly trivial forms, is deeply embedded in the social fabric.