Al Maul, Pitcher, Pittsburgh, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card of Al Maul, a pitcher for Pittsburgh, produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes, sometime in the late 19th century. It's a small piece of printed ephemera, but it speaks volumes about the social conditions of its time. The image links the burgeoning sport of baseball with the booming tobacco industry, both hallmarks of late 19th-century American culture. Note the emphasis on individual players, suggesting the rise of celebrity culture and the commodification of athletic prowess. This card served as a promotional tool, embedding itself within consumer culture. To understand the card's full significance, we might delve into the history of advertising, the rise of baseball as a national pastime, and the social impact of tobacco consumption. Art historians can contextualize this image by exploring advertising archives and the institutional history of baseball. Ultimately, this card reflects the economic and cultural forces shaping American society at the time.