Out, from the Talk of the Diamond set (N135) issued by Duke Sons & Co., a branch of the American Tobacco Company 1888

This small chromolithograph was produced by W. Duke, Sons & Co., an American tobacco company, as part of a baseball card series. It presents a humorous take on the sport, revealing social dynamics of the time. Made during a period of baseball’s rising popularity, the image reflects the sport’s integration into American culture. We see a baseball game, with its players and spectators, but also an attempt to view the game for free. A policeman is trying to catch a young barefoot boy who is peeking through a fence, presumably to watch the game without paying. This scene subtly critiques the commercialization of leisure and access to public entertainment. The card’s humour isn’t just about a child’s mischief, it highlights socio-economic divides, and the policing of public spaces. Understanding this image requires us to look beyond its surface. Archival research into the economics of baseball, social policies, and the marketing strategies of tobacco companies helps reveal the complex interplay of commerce, class, and culture in late 19th-century America.