Daniel Eckford "Ecky" Stearns, 1st Base, Kansas City Cowboys, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Editor: Let's talk about this photograph from between 1887 and 1890, "Daniel Eckford 'Ecky' Stearns, 1st Base, Kansas City Cowboys." It’s a print made by Goodwin & Company, and what strikes me most is the somewhat artificial-looking backdrop behind the player. What do you see when you look at this, particularly in terms of how it was made and its place in culture? Curator: Well, notice first that it's from the "Old Judge" series, explicitly connecting baseball imagery to the promotion of cigarettes. Consider the social implications – the popular sport is used to market tobacco. The staged background also points to a deliberate construction of the image. These weren't candid shots. Editor: So, the baseball card is basically an advertisement using a sporting icon. But how does that relate to the art world at the time? Curator: Think about it. Photography was relatively new. It was finding its place, its purpose. Here, we see it used for commercial means, making the everyday accessible in a collectible format. Do you think that influences how viewers at the time would respond? Editor: It probably did. They were experiencing it in a totally different way. Like a tangible and consumable piece of their celebrity culture. What also surprises me is how such an old advertisement, still, is perceived as art by collectors nowadays. Curator: Absolutely. This print, originally mass-produced and disposable, now has a significant art historical and social value, speaking volumes about early baseball, the rise of advertising, and even the social habits surrounding tobacco use. The photo reminds us that "art" can arise from many facets of our human activity. Editor: This has made me think of baseball cards completely differently! Now, seeing that image connects to marketing, celebrity culture, the growth of photography. Very insightful, thank you. Curator: It’s amazing how a small card can unlock such a rich story, isn't it?