Irwin, 3rd Base, Washington, from the series Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This photographic baseball card of Irwin, captured by Goodwin & Company, presents us with more than just a portrait of an athlete. It’s a study of anticipation and readiness. Observe Irwin's posture: hands resting on his knees, body coiled, eyes focused. This stance, seen in athletes across millennia, echoes the poised readiness of classical sculptures depicting hunters or warriors. The pose speaks to a universal human condition: the readiness to act. Consider the symbolism of the baseball diamond itself. It is an arena where strategy and physicality meet. The baseball diamond can be compared to the Renaissance ‘Magic Square’, and even the ‘Kabbalah’ or 'Tree of Life'. Just like these, it is a structured space where ritual and skill determine fate. The game's repetitive cycles, the pursuit of a symbolic home, tap into our collective memory, resonating with ancient myths of quest and return, evoking deep psychological and emotional responses. The image is a poignant reminder of the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.