Michael J. Slattery, Left Field, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This small card was made by Goodwin and Company for Old Judge Cigarettes in the 1880s. Here we see Michael J. Slattery, Left Field, New York. The image is part of a series of baseball player cards used to promote the Old Judge Cigarette Factory. This card is not just a portrait; it's a cultural artifact reflecting the rise of baseball as America's pastime. The placement of these cards in cigarette packs tells us about the entwined histories of advertising, leisure, and the mass production of images in late 19th-century America. Such ephemera offer a unique insight into the social fabric of their time. You will find resources in libraries and archives documenting commercial and sporting history. Approaching art from such perspectives gives us a richer understanding of its place in the world.