Rehse, Pitcher, Minneapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This is a sepia-toned photograph, almost a trading card, of Rehse, a baseball pitcher for Minneapolis. It dates back to 1888 and was produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. The player looks so serious. What cultural factors might have influenced how images like this were made and consumed back then? Curator: That’s a keen observation. Consider the rise of celebrity culture and mass media in the late 19th century. These baseball cards, distributed with cigarette packs, played a vital role in promoting baseball as a national pastime and creating recognizable sports figures. Who benefited from that? Editor: I suppose the cigarette companies did, with the increased sales. And, Goodwin & Co. got to promote its own brand too through distributing photographs. Was the intention simply promotional? Curator: Promotion, yes, but also something more. Think about how the image normalizes the act of smoking, subtly linking it with athleticism and perhaps even projecting a certain idealized version of American masculinity at that time. It's an interesting conflation, don’t you think? And this ideal, for whom was it created, and who was left out of it? Editor: That’s fascinating. So the card is both a promotional item and a reflection of societal values and norms. I’m interested to think about how sports, advertising, and cultural values intersect in this little photograph. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. It is always crucial to understand the complex political entanglements and functions of these images, and consider where their influences spread in society. Now I need a cigarette!