Charles G. Buffington, Center Field, Philadelphia, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is an 1887 baseball card made by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. It features Charles G. Buffington, center field for Philadelphia. Produced using photographic techniques and printed on cardstock, the image is sepia-toned, a direct result of the materials and processes of the time. It was a period when photography was becoming increasingly industrialized. These cards were not just images, but also commodities, mass-produced and distributed as promotional items. They were a low-cost but effective way to promote tobacco sales, linking the popular sport of baseball with the equally popular habit of cigarette smoking. Consider the labor involved: from the photographers capturing the images to the factory workers printing and packaging the cards. These processes reflect the rise of consumer culture and the increasing integration of sports, advertising, and industrial production. Looking at this simple card, we see that the value lies not only in the image itself, but also in understanding the complex networks of production, consumption, and cultural meaning that it embodies.