Jack McGeachey, Center Field, Indianapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

Editor: So, this is “Jack McGeachey, Center Field, Indianapolis,” a gelatin silver print from 1887, originally a baseball card for Old Judge Cigarettes. It’s pretty beat up, which gives it a ghostly, vintage vibe. What strikes me is the stillness, almost a posed quality rather than an action shot. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The baseball player frozen mid-motion speaks volumes about the cultural moment it captures. Look at how McGeachey is holding the baseball. It’s a very particular gesture, reminiscent of depictions of saints holding orbs, globes symbolizing power and celestial authority. Here, the ball isn’t just an object; it’s becoming an emblem. Editor: An emblem of baseball? Curator: Yes, baseball, America itself, athleticism, masculine virtue, consumerism. The card, distributed with Old Judge Cigarettes, intertwined these things. The photo presents an idealized figure and his association with this specific cigarette brand; this makes it especially compelling, since the photograph’s age, combined with its original use in advertisement, offers us a layered image resonant with cultural significance, imbuing him with this power. Editor: So, you’re saying the baseball and even the cigarette brand elevate the player beyond just a portrait? Curator: Precisely. Objects accrue significance. Think about other athletes memorialized with items of apparel—shoes, bats. McGeachey and Old Judge are inextricably linked. By depicting him alongside his "equipment," they have immortalized him beyond the diamond! Editor: I never would have considered all those connections! Now when I look at this image, I consider what symbols are visible. Curator: Visual culture rewards us that way. Every mark is full of intention and meaning, and now, thanks to our discussion, perhaps we will all look at it with newer, critical eyes!