William Waterfield "Wild Bill" Widner, Pitcher, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This photographic print of William “Wild Bill” Widner, made by Goodwin & Co. for Old Judge Cigarettes, captures the essence of a modern hero in the late 19th century. Dominating the composition, Widner holds a baseball bat; a symbol of strength, skill, and the burgeoning American pastime. The bat, a simple wooden tool, takes on a mythic quality, reminiscent of ancient weapons wielded by legendary figures. Think of the club of Hercules, reinvented in the modern age. The image is an echo chamber of collective memory, recalling the primal thrill of competition and the human desire for triumph. This seemingly simple baseball card encapsulates the cyclical nature of symbols, their ability to resurface and evolve, carrying the weight of cultural memory into new eras.