E.J. Delehanty, Left Field, Philadelphia, from Mayo's Cut Plug Baseball series (N300)

Art Historical Context

Step into the bustling world of 1890s America with *E.J. Delehanty, Left Field, Philadelphia a vibrant commercial lithograph from P.H. Mayo & Brother Mayo's Cut Plug Baseball seriesN300), produced in Richmond, Virginia, in 1895. This print, measuring just 2 13/16 × 1 5/8 inches, captures the likeness of Ed "E.J." Delehanty, a star left fielder for the Phillies, in a style typical of early baseball trading cards. Tucked into packs of chewing tobacco, these ephemera were clever marketing tools that fueled the growing passion for America's pastime. Lithography, a revolutionary printing technique of the era, enabled the mass production of colorful, detailed portraits like this one, making sports heroes accessible to everyday fans. Part of the Jefferson R. Burdick Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, it exemplifies how commercial art bridged advertising and popular culture, turning athletes into icons long before modern endorsements. Today, this tiny treasure highlights baseball's explosive rise in the late 19th century, when tobacco companies pioneered collectibles that sparked lifelong hobbies. A snapshot of Gilded Age fandom, it reminds us how everyday objects preserved the thrill of the diamond.