Bassett, 2nd Base, Indianapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is "Bassett, 2nd Base, Indianapolis," a baseball card produced by Goodwin & Company around 1887 as part of their "Old Judge Cigarettes" series. These cards emerged during a period of burgeoning consumer culture and rising popularity of baseball, offering a glimpse into the intersections of commerce, sport, and identity at the time. The image depicts Bassett, a ballplayer for the Indianapolis team, captured in a staged pose. Sporting images like this one played a role in shaping perceptions of masculinity and national identity. Consider the context of this work: a time when the concept of leisure was evolving, alongside the professionalization of sports. Baseball was becoming a national pastime, and these cards helped to construct and disseminate idealized versions of athleticism. The card also offers a subtle commentary on the commodification of sports figures. These players became not just athletes, but also symbols of a burgeoning consumer culture. This image is more than just a portrait; it is a fragment of a larger narrative about how we construct heroes and how those heroes are used to sell us dreams and desires.