Alexander, Pitcher, Des Moines, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This is a baseball card of Alexander, Pitcher, Des Moines, from the Old Judge series made around 1889 by Goodwin & Company as advertisement for Old Judge Cigarettes. The sepia tone and small scale of the card create an intimate viewing experience, focusing attention on the figure of the baseball player. He stands in a slightly off-center position, which brings a dynamic tension to the composition, challenging the traditional static portrait. Consider the semiotic interplay here: Alexander, as a baseball pitcher, embodies strength, precision, and athleticism. This is directly linked to Old Judge Cigarettes. The structure of the card, therefore, is not just about representation; it functions as a sign, equating the qualities of the athlete with the brand, embedding a capitalist incentive into the emerging culture of sport. Notice the cropping. It serves to flatten the image and emphasize the two-dimensionality of the card. It's a formal device that underscores how even in representational forms, art constructs meaning through deliberate manipulation of space and form.