Abram Harding "Hardy" Richardson, Left Field, Detroit Wolverines, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is Abram Harding "Hardy" Richardson, left field for the Detroit Wolverines, captured in a photograph around 1887 by Goodwin & Company for their Old Judge Cigarettes series. These cards were printed using photolithography, a process allowing for mass production and distribution. The sepia tones visible here were a hallmark of early photographic printing, due to the chemical processes used to develop the images, which were then adhered to card stock. Consider the context: Goodwin & Co. used these cards as marketing tools, slipping them into packs of cigarettes. What better way to promote a product than by associating it with a beloved baseball player? This points to the burgeoning culture of celebrity endorsement and the intersection of sport, industry, and consumption in late 19th-century America. The Old Judge series exemplifies how photography and printmaking became essential tools in shaping and reflecting popular culture.