Duke Baltz 1975

Mike Mandel created this image of Duke Baltz, printed as an 8 x 5.5 cm card, as part of his project *People in Gas Stations* in the 1970s. Mandel’s work examines how photography mediates identity and culture. The black and white image presents Baltz, an ordinary man, in a staged baseball card format. He wears a Los Angeles Dodgers cap, turtleneck, windbreaker, and jeans, holding a baseball glove. This aesthetic is a far cry from the typical posed portraits of famous players. Mandel’s baseball cards speak to the American dream and the construction of celebrity. Consider how the baseball card format democratizes portraiture, yet also hints at the commercialization of identity. Through Baltz, Mandel touches on themes of masculinity, labor, and the everyday aspirations of American life. The work asks us to consider the emotional connections we form with images and how these images reflect our desires and values.