Harry Francis "Farmer" Vaughn, Catcher, Louisville Colonels, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This card, one of many produced by Goodwin & Company, shows Harry Francis "Farmer" Vaughn of the Louisville Colonels. At first glance, it's a simple portrait, but the baseball bat he carries is an icon laden with cultural significance. Consider the scepter, a symbol of royal authority throughout history. Vaughn’s bat mirrors this ancient emblem. It's not merely a tool for sport; it represents power, skill, and the collective aspirations of a community. Baseball, like ancient rituals, provides a stage for communal emotions, a release from the mundane. The swing of the bat connects us to the primal act of striking, of asserting oneself against the world. This image, like a carefully preserved memory, invokes feelings of nostalgia, of simpler times, and the enduring human need for heroes.