Albert Herman "Schelley" Schellhase, Catcher, St. Joseph Clay Eaters, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

Editor: So this is Albert Herman "Schelley" Schellhase, a baseball card from 1889, made by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. It's a photographic print, and it's surprisingly intimate. What’s interesting is how posed and formal he looks despite being an athlete. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, considering its context – distributed with cigarettes – we see the commercialization of athletes in its early stages, shaping their image for public consumption. Baseball cards emerged within the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the late 19th century. They reflected both a burgeoning consumer culture and a romanticized ideal of athletic prowess. Editor: So, less about the sport and more about…selling an image? Curator: Exactly. These cards, like other ephemera, helped cultivate a sense of shared identity around sports heroes. The "Old Judge" series, in particular, presents a constructed image of respectability and heroism. Notice the deliberate staging, the serious gaze. It's crafting a very specific narrative around Schellhase. It is designed to appeal to potential cigarette buyers as much as baseball fans. Do you think this is ethical from today's perspective? Editor: It does feel a bit exploitative, given the cigarette connection. Knowing this was essentially advertising changes how I view the card. Curator: Indeed. These images played a role in the construction of fame and the celebrity culture surrounding athletes that we see today. Editor: I hadn’t considered the historical context of celebrity and advertising together like that. That connection is definitely something I’ll keep in mind moving forward.