The Umpire, "Low Ball, Jimmy," from the Terrors of America set (N136) issued by Duke Sons & Co. to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco 1888 - 1889

This chromolithograph, "The Umpire, "Low Ball, Jimmy," comes from the Terrors of America set issued around 1888 by Duke Sons & Co., to promote Honest Long Cut Tobacco. These cards were a classic marketing technique of the time. At first glance, it’s a simple baseball scene but, look closer and consider the phrase 'terrors of America'. Who, at that time, was considered a terror? The figure is presumably Irish-American, recognizable from his stereotyped features. The Irish were often othered, seen as outsiders in America. The phrase 'Low Ball, Jimmy' implies social class – it's a casual, working-class interaction. The card subtly plays on societal anxieties, feeding into the idea of the 'other' as a source of disruption. It raises questions about who belongs, and who is perceived as a threat, echoing in today’s conversations about identity and belonging.