Thomas Francis Michael "Tommy" McCarthy, 2nd Base, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This baseball card of Tommy McCarthy, a second baseman for Philadelphia, was produced around 1887 by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. It's made from a thin sheet of paper, likely mass-produced, with a photograph adhered to the front. The sepia tone suggests a photographic process like albumen or gelatin silver printing, common at the time for their reproducibility. The image itself captures McCarthy in action, reflecting the growing popularity of baseball and the emerging culture of celebrity athletes. But this card is also a product of its time, a piece of commercial ephemera designed to be collected and traded. These cards were included in cigarette packs as a marketing gimmick. It's a reminder of the close relationship between consumer culture and leisure activities. Ultimately, it's a small but fascinating artifact that speaks volumes about the intersection of sports, industry, and popular culture in late 19th-century America.