Alexander "Colonel" Ferson, Pitcher, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1889

This is a baseball card of Alexander "Colonel" Ferson, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals, created by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The image is dominated by Ferson himself, carefully clutching the baseball in front of him. This gesture, seemingly simple, is laden with meaning. We see in the controlled tension of his hands a desire to harness the power of the ball, preparing to unleash its potential energy. Consider the echoes of this motif across time and cultures: from ancient depictions of priests holding sacred objects to Renaissance portraits of rulers grasping symbols of their power. Here, the baseball is transformed into a talisman of athletic prowess. The image is more than a mere portrait; it's a visual fragment laden with cultural aspirations and the nascent mythology of American sports. We see the eternal return of the hero, reborn on the baseball diamond.