Caruthers, Pitcher, Brooklyn, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This photographic print of Caruthers, a pitcher for Brooklyn, was made around 1888 by Goodwin & Company. It's a thin paper card, originally inserted in packs of Old Judge Cigarettes. The sepia tones come from the photographic process, popular at the time and allowing for mass reproduction. The image is crisp, showing the pitcher's stance, uniform, and even the texture of the baseball. Note the blurring in the background and at the bottom, suggesting a rudimentary studio setting. Goodwin & Company weren't necessarily interested in high art, but in mass appeal. These cards were essentially advertisements, using the popularity of baseball to sell cigarettes. Think about the labor involved: growing and curing the tobacco, manufacturing the cigarettes, printing the cards. The value of the card came not from artistic labor, but its potential for exchange, as a collectible and a commodity. This points to the complicated relationship between art, industry, and everyday life in the late 19th century, challenging our notions of value and artistic intention.