Timothy John "Tim" Keefe, Pitcher, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is a photographic print from 1887, featuring Timothy John "Tim" Keefe, a pitcher for New York, and it was made by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. These cards were produced at a time when baseball was rapidly professionalizing, and the mass production of images, particularly in association with commercial products, became a way of creating celebrity and a sense of connection between players and fans. The card is a cultural artifact, reflecting the intertwining of sports, commerce, and popular culture in late 19th-century America. It suggests how institutions, like baseball leagues and tobacco companies, shaped the production and consumption of images. Keefe's image, reproduced on a cigarette card, speaks volumes about the social conditions that shaped artistic production. Further research into the history of baseball, advertising, and photography in this period could shed light on the complex cultural forces at play.