Thompson, Right Field, Detroit, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This photographic print of Thompson, Right Field for Detroit, was created by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. It’s an albumen silver print, a process popular in the late 19th century. What’s interesting here is the connection between commerce, labor, and leisure. Baseball cards like these were essentially marketing tools, enticing customers to buy cigarettes. The process of albumen printing itself involved labor-intensive steps, from preparing the paper with egg whites to the careful development and printing of the image. The sepia tones and soft focus are a direct result of these chemical processes. The image captures a moment of early baseball history. Think about all the work that goes into producing the materials for baseball, like the wood for the bat, and the fabric for the uniform. Also consider the labor that goes into baseball itself. So, next time you see a vintage photograph, remember that the materials and techniques used in its creation are just as important as the image itself. They offer a glimpse into the social and economic context of the time, and the many hands that contributed to its making.