Stephen John "Steve" Toole, Pitcher, Rochester, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1888

Editor: So this is a baseball card, from the "Old Judge" series of cigarette cards made by Goodwin & Company around 1887 or 1888. It's an albumen print, and it depicts Stephen John "Steve" Toole, a pitcher for Rochester. I find the sepia tones quite nostalgic. What do you see when you look at it? Curator: I see an intriguing snapshot of American cultural memory in the making. The image of Toole isn't just a portrait of an athlete; it's a symbol. Consider baseball at this time—it was solidifying its place as America’s pastime. And what better way to disseminate this image than through association with a burgeoning industry like tobacco? Editor: That makes a lot of sense! The advertisement connects baseball and this particular brand of cigarettes in people’s minds. It makes me wonder about other embedded ideas. Curator: Absolutely! The very act of creating and circulating these images contributes to a sense of national identity and shared experience. What else catches your eye? Perhaps something seemingly insignificant? Editor: Well, there's the font used for “Old Judge”. It seems deliberately antiquated. Was it meant to invoke some kind of historical association, even back then? Curator: Precisely! The "Old Judge" branding, visually reinforced by the font, evokes a sense of authority and tradition, subtly linking the modern game of baseball to an imagined, idealized past. Editor: So much meaning packed into such a small image. Curator: Yes! It highlights the powerful role seemingly simple objects play in shaping cultural narratives. Hopefully this sparks new ways for you to see how potent images really are!