Thomas John "Dude" Esterbrook, 1st Base, Louisville Colonels, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This photographic print of Thomas John "Dude" Esterbrook, a 1st baseman for the Louisville Colonels, was created around 1888 by Goodwin & Company. It belongs to the Old Judge series, promotional baseball cards included in cigarette packs. The process of mass image production is key here. Printed on thin paper, the card's value lies less in its material worth than in its function as a collectible and advertisement. Photography was still relatively new, and its integration into mass-produced ephemera like cigarette cards democratized image consumption. The sepia tone, achieved through chemical processes, lends it an air of nostalgia today, though it was simply the readily available technology of the time. This card reflects the booming tobacco industry and the rise of professional baseball, both driven by industrial capitalism. It underscores the connection between leisure, consumption, and the pervasive reach of advertising. The images were made for rapid distribution, unlike traditional portraits which were exclusive and expensive. Ultimately, it reminds us that even seemingly simple images are deeply embedded in the economic and social structures of their time.