Timo Pajunen 1975

Mike Mandel created "Timo Pajunen" as part of his project "People in Baseball" in the 1970s. The project presents a series of portraits resembling baseball trading cards. Mandel, active during a time of significant cultural shifts, questioned traditional portraiture and the construction of identity. In this image, Timo Pajunen is seen holding a baseball glove, his gaze averted, wearing a baseball cap, and casual clothing. Mandel's work taps into the performative aspect of identity and the codes we use to signal belonging. Baseball, as an American cultural institution, is heavily gendered. This photo highlights how the imagery of sport constructs a particular form of masculinity. Mandel’s photographs capture everyday individuals, elevating them to a form of iconic representation usually reserved for celebrities or historical figures. This speaks to a broader theme of democratization within art, asking us to consider who gets remembered and how. Through these portraits, Mandel encourages us to reflect on the narratives we construct around ourselves and others.