Parke B. Swartzel, Pitcher, Kansas City Cowboys, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This card from 1888, by Goodwin & Company, is from the Old Judge series of baseball cards, distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes. It shows Parke B. Swartzel, pitcher for the Kansas City Cowboys. These cards were made using photographic techniques, but also deployed sophisticated printing processes to allow for mass production and distribution. The sepia tone gives it an antique feel, yet this was, in its day, a cutting-edge medium. We might think of it today as a kind of proto-digital image, circulated widely in the service of commerce. The material of the card itself is thin and fragile, a reminder of its disposable nature, yet the image it bears has proven surprisingly durable. It reflects the increasingly sophisticated means of image production available at the time, and the way these were being harnessed to create and promote celebrity culture. Ultimately, understanding the seemingly simple material of this baseball card invites us to consider the complex interplay between photography, consumerism, and the emerging culture of professional sports.