Duffy, Shortstop, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Goodwin & Company produced this baseball card, likely in the late 19th century, as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The monochromatic sepia tones provide a visual harmony, focusing our attention on the figure of Duffy the shortstop. The card’s composition divides roughly into thirds, from the inscription at the bottom, the rough ground in the middle, and Duffy at the top. This structure flattens the image, reducing spatial depth and foregrounding the subject. This is achieved by the pose, which with the baseball bat, directs the gaze. The player's positioning and gaze contribute to the overall sense of anticipation and readiness, evoking the dynamic spirit of the game. Here, the photographic medium serves less to capture a fleeting moment than to construct an idealized image. The card is not just a portrait; it is a cultural artifact, reflecting the emerging commercialization and popularization of baseball and the structures of representation. The player, the brand, and the sport.