Arlie Latham, 3rd Base, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

Editor: This is "Arlie Latham, 3rd Base, St. Louis Browns," a baseball card made between 1887 and 1890 by Goodwin & Company. It's a gelatin-silver print from the "Old Judge" series, meant to be included with cigarette packs. It's really a beautifully simple portrait, and it evokes a bygone era for me. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It is fascinating how this small albumen print captures the burgeoning American obsession with baseball. More than just a portrait, consider the imagery tied to cultural identity. What symbols immediately jump out at you that speak to American ideals? Editor: Well, the baseball uniform, obviously! The team name "St. Louis" across the chest, his striped cap, and even the brand name “Old Judge Cigarettes,” which seems pretty telling about the times. Curator: Precisely. Baseball, even then, signified national pride, local identity, and budding commercialism. This particular image presents Latham as a sort of hero – does his gaze strike you as particularly…confident? The mustache perhaps suggesting a strong masculinity tied to early advertising trends. Notice how the name of the cigarette brand is prominently featured; almost like a halo around his head. What cultural connection might be present with cigarettes associated with success? Editor: Wow, I didn't think of it that way! He definitely does look heroic now that you mention it. The cigarette promotion seems almost innocent by today’s standards, associating his success with the cigarette brand in a kind of implied endorsement. Curator: It tells us how heroes and commodities intertwined. A powerful image revealing our shifting values. Food for thought, indeed! Editor: Definitely something to ponder. I learned that simple images, especially from this era, can reveal complex societal trends, ideals and values when we explore the symbolism they contain.