Elmer Ellsworth "Sy" Sutcliffe, Catcher, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This photographic print of Elmer Ellsworth "Sy" Sutcliffe, a baseball catcher for Cleveland, was produced by Goodwin & Company around 1889 as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. These cards were made using albumen prints, a process that coats paper with egg white to create a glossy surface for the photographic emulsion. Albumen printing was a popular method in the 19th century as it was relatively inexpensive and produced sharp images. However, the process was labor-intensive, requiring skilled technicians to prepare the prints. This print, distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes, reflects the intersection of leisure, consumer culture, and industrial production in late 19th-century America. The photographic process itself, while celebrated for its realism, also involved considerable labor and technical expertise, highlighting the material and social conditions that underpin even seemingly straightforward images. By understanding the processes involved in making this image, we can appreciate its deeper connection to the era's industrial landscape, and the changing nature of work, leisure and consumption.