John A. McCarty, Pitcher, Kansas City Cowboys, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is John A. McCarty, Pitcher, Kansas City Cowboys, made around 1888 by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. Printed on paper, this card isn't just a portrait, but a promotional token, an early form of advertising. Mass-produced images like this one depended on industrial printing techniques, which made images accessible to a wide audience. The card's sepia tone gives it a sense of nostalgia, but it also speaks to the limitations of early color printing. The production of these cards was all about volume. Think of the labor involved: from the photographers capturing the images, to the factory workers printing and packaging the cards with the cigarettes. This speaks to the relationship between sports, advertising, and the rise of consumer culture. So, next time you see a baseball card, consider it not just a piece of memorabilia, but as an artifact of a time when industry, leisure, and image-making came together in new ways.