William H. Tuckerman, Pitcher, St. Paul Apostles, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

Curator: Here we have an 1889 Goodwin & Company baseball card from the Old Judge series, featuring William H. Tuckerman, a pitcher for the St. Paul Apostles. Editor: There's something quite melancholy about this image, even with its clear documentation of athleticism. The sepia tones feel distant, as though separated by time, despite the clear image of the subject. Curator: Note the composition. Tuckerman is centered, nearly symmetrical in his stance, gazing off to the side as he grips the bat. It creates an unusual tension. The muted tones add to its solemn atmosphere. It invites us to examine not just his form but the story behind the individual. Editor: Exactly! Think about the labor involved. The cultivation of tobacco, the manufacture of cigarettes, then the insertion of these cards, images reproduced for mass consumption. And the image itself promotes Old Judge Cigarettes; there’s a cycle of material production. Curator: Consider the semiotics here. The baseball bat, the uniform – signifiers of sport, athleticism, and a burgeoning national pastime. The muted tones, again, are interesting as it adds distance, despite its accessibility due to the nature of production. What can be read from his gesture of looking beyond? Is this optimism? Anticipation? Editor: Perhaps. But more potently, look at the material conditions! This isn't simply a celebration of sport. These cards, these images are advertisements meant to be disposable. There is value assigned to labor but also exploitation via the same process. What materials were used to construct these cards? What type of ink was applied in this manufacturing process? These questions, these tangible details give insights to class divides, capitalist means, and its many inequalities. Curator: Yes, a rich blend of formal and social elements converging. What begins as a seemingly straightforward athletic portrait reveals layers of societal dynamics. Editor: Precisely, examining both the structural and material tells an untold narrative. This portrait, frozen in time, exposes production that goes beyond surface value.