Tyng, Pitcher, Philadelphia, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Goodwin & Company produced this photograph of Tyng, a Philadelphia pitcher, as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The sepia tone of the image gives it a nostalgic feel, highlighting the texture and materiality of the baseball player's uniform against the backdrop of what seems to be an outdoor scene. The composition centers on Tyng, his figure diagonally positioned to draw the eye upwards from his boots to the ball held aloft in his hand. This creates a dynamic tension, a sense of movement frozen in time, further emphasized by his focused gaze. The photograph plays with notions of celebrity and commerce. The player’s image, captured with a clear intent to idealize, is both an advertisement and a collectible. This combination suggests the growing commercialization of sport at the time and prompts us to consider how such images construct and convey cultural values around athleticism and masculinity. Notice how the linear elements – the stripes on his cap, the belt around his waist – structure the visual field. These elements, while simple, contribute to the photograph’s underlying organization, transforming a portrait into a cultural artifact.