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

"Left Field" is from the Talk of the Diamond set of trade cards issued by W. Duke, Sons & Co. around the turn of the century. These cards, distributed with tobacco products, were aimed at male consumers and tapped into the rising popularity of baseball. But what’s fascinating is the undercurrent of masculinity and the challenges it presents. We see a ballplayer, seemingly frozen in place, while a bull gores another player over a fence. The scene suggests that the baseball field wasn't just a place for sport; it was also an arena where a certain kind of virility was on display and constantly tested. Is it the agility and strength that’s needed to avoid a charging bull? Or is it the stoic, almost indifferent stance of the player who watches the spectacle unfold? The card reflects a society grappling with changing ideas around gender, where athleticism and physical prowess were becoming increasingly intertwined with male identity. It's not just about playing the game, but about performing a very specific version of manhood, with all its anxieties and contradictions.