Joseph "Reddy" Mack, 2nd Base, Louisville Colonels, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card from the "Old Judge" series, produced around 1888 by Goodwin & Company as an advertisement for Old Judge Cigarettes, it features Joseph “Reddy” Mack, a second baseman for the Louisville Colonels. Consider the social landscape of late 19th-century America. Baseball was rapidly growing in popularity, becoming intertwined with notions of national identity and masculine prowess. These cards were essentially tools of promotion, capitalizing on the fame of athletes like Mack, a figure now largely lost to the annals of baseball history. They offer a fascinating glimpse into the way in which commercial interests began to shape the sporting world. Mack's posture is interesting: bent over, his hands seemingly working the dirt. It speaks to the labor and grit associated with the sport. The card is more than just a portrait of an athlete; it's a carefully constructed image designed to sell an idea, a lifestyle. In this way, the baseball card straddles the line between commerce, sport, and identity.