Lawrence Grant "Larry" Twitchell, Pitcher, Detroit Wolverines, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This photographic print of Lawrence "Larry" Twitchell, pitcher for the Detroit Wolverines, was made by Goodwin & Company around 1887 and was originally distributed as a promotional item for Old Judge Cigarettes. These cards arose from the rapid growth of both professional baseball and the tobacco industry in the late 19th century. Tobacco companies recognized the marketing potential of baseball's burgeoning popularity, and began inserting these cards into their products to increase sales and brand recognition. The cards, like this one of Twitchell, often featured posed photographs of players, team logos, and advertisements for the cigarette brand, blurring the line between sport, commerce, and personal vice. To understand the value of an object such as this, the art historian will look not only at the image itself, but to archives of printed ephemera. These sources will provide invaluable information about the social and cultural history of the work.