Clarence Geoghan "Kid" Baldwin, Catcher, Cincinnati, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Editor: This albumen print, dated 1888, features Clarence Geoghan "Kid" Baldwin, a baseball catcher for Cincinnati. It’s part of the "Old Judge" series used to promote Old Judge Cigarettes. What strikes me is its simplicity; a single figure against a fairly blank background, seemingly captured mid-action. How would you interpret this piece, given its historical context? Curator: It's more than a portrait, it is evidence of an emerging cultural phenomenon: the commercialization of baseball. These cards were effectively advertisements packaged with cigarettes, targeting a growing market for both baseball fandom and tobacco consumption. How do you think the image itself contributed to the promotion? Editor: Well, Baldwin is presented as an athletic ideal, capturing this in-action snapshot could be interpreted as showing how manly he is! Almost godlike... Curator: Exactly! The images often idealized the players, fostering a sense of aspiration and connection with the consumer. The cigarette company, Goodwin & Co., wasn’t just selling tobacco; they were selling an association with a particular form of masculinity, athletic prowess, and success. Do you think the location of this print matters, now displayed at The Met? Editor: It is funny you bring this up! Originally it would have been collected to use, it’s advertising first and art second, and it’s now a treasure piece that we reflect upon with fresh eyes. It sort of takes it out of its intended context! Curator: Precisely. The museum context elevates it from ephemera to a document of social history. We see how image-making and popular culture intersected with commerce to shape perceptions and desires in late 19th-century America. Editor: It really highlights how much the role of art is contextual. Now I understand the role baseball played back then and I see why these types of advertisements were successful. Curator: Indeed, seeing these types of commercial prints through a historic lens lets us discuss larger issues such as culture and how museums reflect that.