Jack "Peach Pie" O'Connor, Catcher, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This small photographic print was made around 1889 by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. Here we see Jack "Peach Pie" O'Connor poised, a baseball raised in his hand, ready to throw. This act of throwing is primal, echoing the ancient Greek discobolus. The athlete’s posture is not merely physical; it is imbued with a potent energy, a coiled tension ready to be unleashed. The act of throwing is a motif that transcends sport. Think of ancient sculptures depicting warriors casting spears or gods hurling thunderbolts, each a symbol of power and intent. The ball itself transforms from a mere object into a nexus of potential, a symbol of the narratives we project onto it—dreams of victory, fears of failure. These athletic images, distributed widely, tap into a collective yearning for heroes, their actions magnified by the public gaze. The image resonates as a potent expression of the human drive to compete, to excel, and to leave one's mark upon the world.