Billie Nash, 3rd Base, Boston, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This small card, dating to 1888, features Billie Nash, a third baseman for Boston, and was produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. It is a printed photograph, a then-novel technique that allowed for mass production of images. Think about what’s going on here: photography made affordable, sports heroes used to sell cigarettes. The card material is thin and slightly worn, reflecting its original function as a disposable insert within a product meant to be consumed and discarded. The sepia tone gives the card a sense of nostalgia, reminding us of a time when baseball was emerging as a popular American pastime. Cards like these were essentially commercial ephemera, yet they have become valuable historical artifacts. They speak volumes about the inter-section of sport, commerce, and visual culture in late 19th-century America. Recognizing the way the photograph was circulated, and its value now, helps us understand the way these hierarchies shift.