Nathaniel P. "Nat" Hudson, Pitcher, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a promotional baseball card from 1887, produced by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes, featuring Nathaniel P. "Nat" Hudson, a pitcher for the St. Louis Browns. Nat Hudson stands poised, his arm extended in mid-throw, an echo of classical depictions of athletes and heroes. Consider the gesture of the outstretched arm, a symbol that transcends mere athletic action. Think of the Roman emperors depicted addressing their legions, or even religious figures offering blessings. This gesture, laden with authority and power, appears here repurposed, democratized. It is no longer the divine right of kings, but the athletic prowess of a baseball pitcher. This card speaks to a shift in cultural values, where the hero is not a monarch or a god, but an athlete, a symbol of American enterprise and vigor. We are drawn to these images, not merely for their aesthetic value, but because they tap into something deeper—a collective memory of symbols and gestures that resonate across time. The image, innocuous as it seems, thus becomes a potent cultural artifact, revealing the complex ways in which we construct and celebrate our heroes.