Elmer Ellsworth "Mike" Smith, Pitcher, Cincinnati, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes

This card featuring Elmer Ellsworth "Mike" Smith, a pitcher for Cincinnati, was made around 1888 by Goodwin & Company, as part of their Old Judge Cigarettes series. This was achieved through photography, which was then reproduced in a way that could be inserted into cigarette packs. The sepia tone has a warmth and depth that is characteristic of the period. The card has a matte surface, yet the photograph captures a remarkable amount of detail in Smith’s face and uniform. This card wasn’t only about art or baseball, it was primarily about marketing, which was designed to get you to buy a specific brand of cigarettes. These cards were mass-produced and widely distributed, reflecting the rise of consumer culture at the time. It prompts us to consider the vast scale of production and consumption that underpinned even a small, seemingly innocuous item like this baseball card. The work involved in creating, printing, and distributing these cards speaks to a whole economy of labor.