Hugh Duffy, Shortstop, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card of Hugh Duffy, the Chicago shortstop, made by Goodwin & Company in 1888, as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. Produced in a time when commercial culture was rapidly expanding, these cards were inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing strategy. The image creates meaning through visual codes linked to the rise of baseball as America’s pastime. The late 19th century saw baseball solidify its place in the national consciousness, becoming intertwined with ideas of American identity, masculinity, and competition. Prominent athletes became celebrities, and the mass-produced cards speak to the growing commercialization of leisure and sport. The institution of baseball itself developed alongside the rise of industrial capitalism in America. Further research into the archives of the Goodwin & Company might reveal the intentions behind this series and its role in shaping perceptions of both baseball and the consumption of tobacco. Understanding the role of art as an economic instrument is key.