Dwyer, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is Dwyer, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172), a lithograph card created around 1888 by Goodwin & Company as part of a baseball promotional series for Old Judge Cigarettes. Produced at a time when baseball was rapidly gaining popularity, these cards offer a glimpse into the cultural landscape of late 19th-century America. While seemingly simple advertisements, these cards are potent cultural artifacts reflecting the intertwining of commerce, leisure, and identity. Consider how the commercialization of baseball influenced perceptions of masculinity and American identity. The series often featured idealized images of athletes, contributing to the construction of celebrity culture. What does it mean to participate in the construction of a national pastime? In what ways did baseball become a vehicle for expressing regional pride and solidifying a sense of community?