Sproat, Pitcher, St. Louis Whites, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is "Sproat, Pitcher, St. Louis Whites," a baseball card from the Old Judge series, produced by Goodwin & Company in 1888. It captures Ed Sproat, a pitcher for the St. Louis Whites, in a sepia-toned photograph printed on a small card, originally inserted into cigarette packs. These cards were more than mere advertisements; they offered a romanticized vision of athleticism and success during a period of rapid industrialization. Sproat’s determined gaze and poised stance evoke the ideals of masculinity and ambition of the era. Yet, these cards also reflect the complex realities of American society. Baseball, while seemingly unifying, was also segregated, barring Black players from participating. The popularity of these cards coincided with the rise of Jim Crow laws, underscoring the racial divisions of the time. The act of collecting and trading such cards created a shared cultural experience, but the image also reminds us to think critically about the narratives and values these historical artifacts promote, and to consider the exclusions they perpetuate.