William Ellsworth "Bill" Blair, Pitcher, Hamilton Hams, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This baseball card of William Ellsworth "Bill" Blair, Pitcher, Hamilton Hams, was produced by Goodwin & Company in 1888. The act of throwing—here captured in Blair’s poised stance—resonates deeply within the human psyche. Consider the Discobolus of Myron, from ancient Greece, where we see a similar tension and release. The symbolism transcends mere athletic representation; it speaks to the potential for action, the anticipation of a decisive moment. The ball itself, small as it may seem, becomes a focal point of concentrated energy. From ancient games to modern sports, the sphere embodies notions of destiny, chance, and control. It reappears time and again in different forms, from the orb held by rulers signifying global power, to the simple ball, a child's first toy. We are reminded that symbols have a way of persisting, embedding themselves in our collective memory and resurfacing in unexpected contexts.