Chas. Brynan, Pitcher, Chicago, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

Curator: This is an albumen print from 1888, a baseball card actually, part of the "Old Judge" series produced by Goodwin & Company to promote their cigarettes. The image depicts Chas. Brynan, a pitcher for Chicago. Editor: My initial impression is of a time capsule; it’s small, sepia-toned, almost delicate, yet it speaks volumes about the cultural values of its era. There's a certain masculine ideal being projected. Curator: Absolutely. It’s important to consider the socio-economic implications of baseball cards being bundled with cigarettes. These cards weren't just innocent collectibles; they served as marketing tools deeply embedded in consumer culture. The mass production of these types of items and the commercial appeal to male smokers. Editor: Yes, and the selection of baseball players highlights a specific form of American masculinity—strong, competitive, and celebrated. Looking at Brynan's stance, frozen mid-throw, there’s a clear emphasis on athleticism. He represents not just himself but a particular idealized version of maleness that was deemed worthy of mass consumption, a very normative and often exclusive form. Curator: Right, we must interrogate that representation. Baseball, even then, was not fully integrated, and this card undoubtedly reflects the racial and social biases of the period, but at the same time, for working-class people these baseball figures offered aspirational figures. Also, consider the power dynamics at play, how the companies created a demand but also influenced public perceptions of athletes. Editor: Examining these artifacts allows us to analyze not only the sport itself but also the power of representation and the construction of celebrity culture. They are relics which invite questions about inclusion and exclusion. Thinking of Brynan now as more than an individual ballplayer opens avenues for analyzing the capitalist structures that formed a commodity out of him. Curator: This piece is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It truly makes me consider how we must acknowledge its complicated narrative; a narrative rooted in commercial interests but representative of popular pastimes. Editor: Definitely; I agree it brings a fascinating intersection of art, sports, advertising, and historical perspectives together in a miniature portrait of a bygone era.