John A. "Cub" Stricker, 2nd Base, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

Editor: This is a baseball card from 1889 featuring John A. "Cub" Stricker, a 2nd baseman for Cleveland. It's part of the "Old Judge" series, made by Goodwin & Company for cigarette promotion. It's such a sepia-toned image! It gives it a ghostly, nostalgic vibe, like a phantom from baseball's early days. What catches your eye when you look at this? Curator: Well, darling, doesn't it just transport you? For me, it’s more than a simple photograph. It's like holding a tiny piece of the 19th century in your hands. This "Old Judge" series... imagine the artistry in crafting such cards, each a portal into a simpler time, before the noise of modern life. And think of Stricker, poised there—ready for the pitch. Do you think he knew he'd become a kind of… myth? Editor: Myth? That's a big claim for a baseball card. Curator: Oh, but isn’t that what all images do, especially those touched by time? They elevate the everyday to the legendary. Think of those lucky few who were immortalized on these little slabs, destined for a hazy immortality via baseball card collections… it’s delicious, really. Aren’t you just a bit jealous? Editor: I suppose there is something glamorous about being immortalized! And it does make me wonder about how people experienced baseball back then. Curator: Exactly! It’s like peeking into a world on the cusp of huge change. You almost hear the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd – through a sepia-toned filter, of course! It is fascinating, this accidental preservation, this accidental art. Editor: I hadn't considered it art initially, but now I see how the historical context and even the imperfections contribute to its value and beauty. Curator: Precisely! The very best art invites us into a world that can never be experienced quite the same way again!