Boyce, Catcher, Washington, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This baseball card, featuring Boyce, a catcher for Washington, was produced by Goodwin & Company around 1887, as part of a promotional series for Old Judge Cigarettes. The card is made of paper, which would have been printed with a photographic image and text. What's fascinating about these cards is the intersection of leisure, commerce, and the burgeoning world of mass media. Produced during a time when baseball was gaining immense popularity, these cards were essentially miniature advertisements slipped into cigarette packs. This speaks to a society increasingly driven by consumerism, where even leisure activities were intertwined with marketing strategies. The cards were printed by the thousands, reflecting the rise of industrial printing and its ability to disseminate images widely. In a way, they democratized access to visual culture, making images of athletes accessible to the masses. This speaks to the ways in which everyday objects can reflect broader social and economic trends, blurring the lines between art, craft, and commerce.