Albert John "Doc" Bushong, Catcher, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886

This small card, printed by Goodwin & Company, features Albert John "Doc" Bushong, a catcher for the St. Louis Browns. Note the prominent display of his team's name across his chest. The very act of emblazoning a team's name upon a uniform, is a symbolic declaration of identity and allegiance, a practice that echoes through centuries. One can trace this back to the heraldic emblems of medieval knights, each symbol a potent signifier of lineage, loyalty, and personal valor. Just as a knight's coat of arms distinguished him on the battlefield, Bushong's uniform asserts his belonging to the St. Louis Browns. Consider how these symbols evolved: from feudal emblems to modern logos, each carries the weight of its history, adapted and reinterpreted by successive generations. This card taps into the same impulse to belong, to identify with something larger than oneself. It connects us to a shared cultural narrative that still resonates today, reminding us that the need for identity and belonging transcends time.