William E. "Will" Fuller, Catcher, Milwaukee, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888 - 1889

Curator: Seeing this photograph of Will Fuller from around 1888, a baseball catcher for Milwaukee, really takes me back to simpler times. It's amazing how much history is captured in this little Old Judge Cigarettes card, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely. My first impression is of this sort of sepia-toned formality. It's a study in lines, really, the vertical bat against the, slightly less rigid, verticality of the athlete himself, capped off by the geometric text at the bottom. Curator: And what a character! He just exudes a calm confidence that's so different from today's hyped-up sports stars. Do you think it was easier back then to appear in such photographs with nonchalance? It appears the catcher has positioned himself with ease and grace. Editor: Perhaps the technology of early photography forced a stillness that became an aesthetic choice. Note the way his stance, with that bat acting almost as a grounding rod, stabilizes the composition. And that slight tilt of the head... pure calculation! Curator: You know, it's fascinating how something as ephemeral as a baseball card can become a window into the past. Look at his uniform – it reads “Milwaukee”, and it connects you with those fans from more than a century ago! Plus, you get the idea of a hardworking everyman in what would become a cherished pastime and profession. It really puts a human face on the sport's early years. Editor: Exactly! The monochrome palette emphasizes form and texture— the cloth of the uniform, the polished bat—creating a compelling tension between the material reality and the idealized image. Think of this card's status as something tucked away, but also consumed in quick exchange. The very concept lends to an increased sentimental reaction. Curator: You make me think about how precious something so commonplace could become. And what the cigarette brand signifies as another fragment of society. A fleeting puff versus immortality on a tiny, portable cardboard. Editor: Indeed, the very ephemerality makes its survival that much more striking! I’ll leave seeing it with such new depth now. Curator: Agreed. Let’s consider how these layered components make us consider photography’s reach and place now. Thanks!