William C. Crossley, Catcher, Milwaukee, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

Goodwin & Company produced this small card of William C. Crossley, a catcher for Milwaukee, as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. This was a period when baseball was becoming deeply ingrained in American culture, yet also fraught with social complexities. As an advertising premium, this card speaks to the intertwined histories of commerce, leisure, and identity construction in late 19th-century America. Tobacco companies like Goodwin & Co. targeted a predominantly male audience, subtly linking the ideals of athleticism and masculinity with their products. But consider the racial dimensions; while these cards celebrated white athletes like Crossley, they simultaneously reinforced the exclusion of people of color from professional baseball, mirroring broader societal segregation. The pose, the uniform, and the very act of collecting these cards were ways of solidifying a particular vision of American identity, one that was defined by both inclusion and exclusion. Think about the stories these cards told, and whose stories they left out.