Gunning, Catcher, Philadelphia Athletics, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Editor: Here we have "Gunning, Catcher, Philadelphia Athletics," a print made in 1887 by Goodwin & Company, as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. What strikes me is the way the athlete’s grounded pose contrasts with the sepia tones that lend it such an antiquated, almost ethereal feel. What do you see in this piece, beyond the obvious baseball connection? Curator: Well, first I’m drawn to how the baseball player, Gunning, is presented less as an individual and more as a symbol. Consider the context: this was part of a series of collectible cards inserted into cigarette packs. What archetypes of masculinity, aspiration, and leisure were being constructed and sold alongside tobacco? Editor: So you're saying the image is less about Gunning and more about projecting an ideal? Curator: Precisely. Think about the symbolic weight of athleticism during this period, coinciding with rapid industrialization. Baseball, like these images, offered a nostalgic link to an idealized past. The Old Judge Cigarettes brand name reinforces this sense of authority and tradition. What do you think this iconography tells us about America’s vision of itself at this moment in history? Editor: That's interesting! It makes me rethink what I initially saw as a simple portrait. Now I'm considering the layered meanings about constructed identity and historical context. Curator: Indeed. It shows how potent visual symbols can be, embedding cultural memory and shaping collective identity. It is far from just a portrait. Editor: This exploration of baseball, cigarettes, and archetypes has truly broadened my perspective! Curator: Mine too! Looking at it through this lens makes it even more fascinating.