Charles Louis "Chief" Zimmer, Catcher, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This baseball card of Charles Louis "Chief" Zimmer was made around 1887 by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. Here, the gesture of his raised hand, ball in palm, is not merely an action of the game. It echoes the "ad locutio" stance found in ancient Roman art. In antiquity, the raised hand symbolized power, command, and the ability to communicate authority. Think of Roman emperors addressing their legions. Over time, this motif evolved, appearing in religious contexts—Christ blessing the masses—and secular ones. But consider, too, the deeper psychological resonance: this gesture taps into our collective memory, triggering a subconscious recognition of leadership and guidance. Whether in ancient Rome, a Renaissance fresco, or this humble baseball card, the raised hand evokes a sense of expectation, a connection to something larger than oneself. A lineage.