Cunningham, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Curator: Alright, let’s delve into this intriguing piece from the Met’s collection. It's a baseball card, specifically “Cunningham, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles” from the Old Judge series (N172), produced by Goodwin & Company between 1887 and 1890. Editor: Wow, it’s like stepping back in time! The sepia tone gives it such an aged feel. There's a somber quality to it—it’s evocative of another era. You almost can smell the tobacco... I wonder if Cunningham minded having his portrait attached to a cigarette brand? Curator: That's an excellent point to consider. These cards, printed using photography and drawing, were actually inserted into cigarette packs as a marketing ploy. Goodwin & Company strategically targeted consumers by associating athleticism with their product. The image reinforces dominant notions of masculinity and commodity culture that thrived at the time, further blurring the lines between celebrity, product endorsement, and health risks. The history of tobacco in baseball marketing certainly carries considerable intersectional ethical implications. Editor: It makes you question the whole system, right? Using a portrait to entice consumers. And the baseball uniform doesn't quite fit him the way modern uniforms do. But that pose... There is something undeniably heroic about the composition—though maybe that's my 21st-century eyes seeing something that isn't there. Maybe it was intended more as promotional material, but he does stand, like so many sporting figures immortalized in bronze. Curator: Perhaps, and let's also remember that this card existed within a larger cultural context of growing interest in sports, particularly baseball, as a source of national pride and entertainment. This kind of early baseball card represents the professionalization of sports in America. Moreover, consider the representation of athletes like Cunningham. It invites us to consider labor, class, and the burgeoning concept of the "sports hero" through the lens of industrial capitalism. Editor: It’s funny to think of a tiny card, slipped into a pack of smokes, holding so much… historical weight. Makes me want to read more about him and Baltimore and see what came of it all, what these images meant. Curator: Exactly. This baseball card provides a glimpse into a transformative moment in American culture, reflecting the intersection of sports, commerce, and identity, issues that continue to shape our world today.