James B. "Jim" Donnelly, 3rd Base, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This baseball card of James B. "Jim" Donnelly was produced by Goodwin & Company in 1887 as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. These cards offer a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of commerce and leisure in late 19th-century America. The image shows Donnelly, a third baseman for the Washington Nationals, holding a baseball bat. Baseball's rise in popularity during this period reflected broader social trends, including the growth of cities, increased leisure time, and a burgeoning consumer culture. Businesses like Goodwin & Company capitalized on this by including baseball cards in their cigarette packs, turning baseball players into marketable figures. Understanding the context of this card requires looking at the history of baseball, advertising, and the changing social landscape of the United States. Extensive archives of baseball cards and advertisement records are useful to understand its significance. The meaning of this simple card lies in its connection to these larger social and institutional histories.