Foreman, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This late 19th-century baseball card, produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes, captures a portrait of Foreman, a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. These cards emerged during a time of growing national interest in baseball, yet they also reflect the commercial strategies of the era, linking sport with habits like tobacco consumption. While these cards seem like mere memorabilia, they offer a glimpse into the construction of celebrity and identity. During this period, baseball was becoming more professionalized and the players were among the first recognized sports stars, an idea captured by this card. We are left to consider what these images meant to fans, to Foreman himself, and how they mirror the values and aspirations of a nation in the midst of great social and industrial change. This small card embodies a larger narrative about who we choose to celebrate and what we choose to remember.