Ervin Duane "Jim" Curtiss, Right Field, St. Joseph Clay Eaters, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This diminutive card, produced by Goodwin & Company, presents Ervin Duane "Jim" Curtiss, a right fielder for the St. Joseph Clay Eaters. Curtiss stands with his hands reaching towards his toes in an athletic pose, in what appears to be a pre-game stretch. This gesture has roots extending far beyond the baseball diamond. Consider the ancient sculptures of athletes, the wrestlers, the discus throwers, their bodies captured in moments of exertion and preparation. The bending figure, a universal symbol of readiness and physical prowess, echoes through millennia, linking Curtiss to the classical ideal. Even in religious iconography, we find parallels; figures bowing in reverence, the body bent in supplication. Here, the emotional intensity of physical action and spiritual devotion converge. This simple card, therefore, transcends its commercial purpose, tapping into something deeply embedded in our collective memory.