Genins, Center Field, Sioux City, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This is an 1889 photograph of Genins, Center Fielder for Sioux City, created by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. These cards were inserted into cigarette packs, a marketing strategy that capitalized on the growing popularity of baseball and tobacco consumption during the late 19th century. The image captures more than just a player; it reflects the burgeoning commercialization of leisure and the construction of celebrity culture. Genins, posed with his bat, embodies an idealized version of masculinity—athletic, strong, and respectable. Yet, this image also prompts us to consider the labor behind the sport, and how class dynamics play out in professional athletics. As we observe Genins, let's reflect on how this image contributed to the mythology of baseball and American identity, fostering both aspirations and exclusions.