Shoch, Right Field, Washington, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This albumen print from Goodwin & Company depicts Shoch, a right fielder for Washington, and it’s one of a series of baseball player portraits inserted into Old Judge Cigarettes packs. The chemical process behind the albumen print involved coating paper with egg white, then sensitizing it with silver nitrate, resulting in a glossy surface ideal for capturing fine details. This process was highly labor intensive, with each print carefully produced and mounted. The baseball cards were an early form of advertising and promotion. The act of collecting these cards became deeply intertwined with consumption habits, blurring the lines between fandom, commercialism, and popular culture. These cards reflect the rise of consumer culture and the marketing strategies that shaped social habits. By considering the materials, production methods, and social context of this baseball card, we can deepen our understanding of its cultural significance.