Jeremiah J. "Miah" Murray, Catcher, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This is a sepia-toned photographic print of Jeremiah J. "Miah" Murray, a baseball catcher for the Washington Nationals, produced by Goodwin & Company in 1887. It was part of a series of promotional trading cards inserted into Old Judge Cigarettes packs. The image is more than just a portrait of an athlete. It reflects the burgeoning commercialization of leisure and sport in late 19th-century America. Baseball was rapidly becoming a national pastime, and shrewd entrepreneurs like Goodwin recognized the marketing potential of associating their product with popular players. The cigarette cards, like this one, were early forms of advertising, blurring the lines between sport, commerce, and personal identity. The idealized depiction of Murray contributes to the construction of a heroic figure, a trend that shaped the early narratives of professional sports. To fully understand this image, we might explore archival materials, business records, and social histories. By examining these resources, we can uncover the complex relationships between cultural production, commercial interests, and the formation of national identity in the Gilded Age.