Hughes, Pitcher, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This is a photographic print of Hughes, Pitcher for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, produced in the United States as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. This was a time when the lines between advertising, popular culture, and sport were particularly porous. The Old Judge series represents an early instance of corporate sponsorship tapping into the burgeoning popularity of baseball. Goodwin & Company, a cigarette manufacturer, used these cards as promotional items, capitalizing on the appeal of baseball to sell their product. This speaks to the intertwined relationship between commerce and leisure in late 19th-century America, and to the institutional history of baseball. To fully appreciate this image, historians might delve into archival sources related to the Goodwin & Company, or explore early baseball records. Understanding the social and economic context reveals how this seemingly simple image reflects broader cultural trends and institutional developments.