J.M. Ward, Shortstop, New York, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This sepia-toned photograph produced by Goodwin & Company in 1887, titled "J.M. Ward, Shortstop, New York," comes from the "Old Judge Cigarettes" series. It presents a portrait of a baseball player, positioned against a vaguely defined backdrop, which speaks volumes about the cultural moment of its creation. In the late 19th century, as baseball was becoming America's pastime, images like these emerged as a form of popular media. The commercial context is hard to ignore. Baseball, masculinity, and consumer culture became interwoven, reflecting the era’s values and aspirations. Ward's posture exudes confidence, hands on his hips, yet there's an underlying vulnerability in his gaze that hints at the pressures of performance and the commodification of identity. These cards marked a transition in how athletes were perceived, transforming them into public figures whose identities were tied to both their on-field achievements and their marketability. How do we reconcile the sense of admiration with the underlying commercial motives? What does it mean to capture an athlete's likeness, and then package and sell it with a product?