Conway, Pitcher, Boston, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Goodwin & Company produced this small albumen print of baseball player Conway in 1887, as part of the "Old Judge" series of baseball cards distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes. These cards emerged during a transformative period in baseball’s history, just as the sport was solidifying its status as America's pastime. During a time when Jim Crow laws were hardening racial segregation, baseball was not exempt. While some teams featured Black players, they were increasingly excluded. These cards, therefore, offer a glimpse into the racial dynamics of the sport. They prompt us to consider who was included and who was excluded from the popular narratives of American culture. The idealized image of athleticism served commercial interests, helping to construct and reinforce notions of masculinity and national identity. What does it mean to see the image of a baseball player promoting a product known to be harmful? Perhaps it means that at its core, this card speaks to a complex interplay of sport, commerce, and cultural identity in late 19th-century America.