Frederick B. "Ned" Jevne, Left Field, Minneapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Editor: This is "Frederick B. 'Ned' Jevne, Left Field, Minneapolis," a photograph from the Old Judge series by Goodwin & Company, dating to between 1887 and 1890. What strikes me is its original purpose – an advertisement inserted into cigarette packs. Given its context as an early form of marketing, what significance do you see in these baseball player portraits? Curator: Precisely. The N172 series reveals much about late 19th-century American culture. Think about the burgeoning popularity of baseball, and how companies like Goodwin leveraged this to sell products. How do you think presenting these athletes as stoic heroes might have played into the construction of a specific American identity and its commercialization? Editor: It’s almost like early influencer marketing! So, baseball players became symbols used to promote ideals connected with "Old Judge" cigarettes and that era. Was this image accessible across different classes at the time? Curator: It’s more complex than simple access. Cigarettes were increasingly common, but these cards would've primarily circulated amongst those who could afford them regularly. More critically, examine who *wasn't* represented. Consider how race, class, and gender were implicitly shaping who was considered a hero or worthy of celebration within this emerging commercial culture. This is as much about visibility as it is about absence. Editor: That’s a great point. Thinking about what wasn’t depicted makes me see the image as more than just a baseball card; it reflects social and economic forces at play. Thanks for highlighting that. Curator: It shows how marketing participates in culture building. Now consider the ethical issues arising when advertising aims to sell items by exploiting famous persons and team spirit. It gives food for thought, indeed!