Glasscock, Shortstop, Indianapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Editor: This is a fascinating piece from 1887, "Glasscock, Shortstop, Indianapolis," part of the "Old Judge" series by Goodwin & Company. It's a gelatin-silver print, so almost like a very early baseball card. There's a real sense of formality, even nostalgia about it. What strikes you about this image? Curator: The weight of symbolism here is compelling. Beyond baseball, what is this image trying to tell us? He stands rigid, in his uniform, against that blurry backdrop. The Old Judge Cigarettes banner is so prominent. Editor: What do you mean, 'weight of symbolism'? Curator: Images become imbued with meaning, layered over time. Look at the crispness of the figure, the deliberate pose with the bat. Baseball itself was becoming increasingly codified as the national pastime around this time, taking on connotations of American identity and virtue. He's not just a player; he is meant to embody the qualities valued within that concept. Editor: So the cigarette advertisement adds to that meaning somehow? Curator: Precisely. This image sold cigarettes, but it also linked the ideas of health, vigor, and athleticism with this new, increasingly popular form of recreation. This photo helped cultivate cultural values regarding ideal masculine archetypes of the era, through consumption and athleticism. Do you see the commercial underpinnings normalizing habits that later may be considered questionable in sports sponsorships? Editor: I see that connection now! It makes me wonder how the symbols we associate with athletes today will be viewed in the future. Curator: It is always worthwhile considering what cultural baggage each image accumulates, for that may also reveal blind spots, normalized values we might wish to scrutinize, or continuity within cultural memory.