Stovey, Left Field, Philadelphia Athletics, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This is a baseball card from 1889, created by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge series for their cigarette brand. It features Stovey, a left fielder for the Philadelphia Athletics. These cards emerged in an era of growing commercialism and mass culture. They were a marketing strategy to promote a product, but also captured the growing popularity of baseball and its players. The image of Stovey frozen in a moment of athletic readiness, speaks to the idealized image of masculinity and physical prowess associated with sports at the time. However, baseball, like much of American society, was heavily segregated, with African American players largely excluded from professional leagues. This card, therefore, reflects a very specific and limited representation of American identity. The success of the tobacco companies at the time was also closely linked to exploitative labor practices and global trade dynamics. The card offers a window into the complex and often contradictory values and structures of the late 19th century. It's a piece of Americana but also a reflection of the societal norms and prejudices of its time.