Conway, Pitcher, Boston, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is a photograph from the Old Judge series of baseball cards, circa 1887, presenting Conway, a pitcher for Boston. Here we see a man holding a wooden bat, itself an emblem of prowess and skill, but more profoundly, echoing clubs and staffs of ancient deities and heroes. Consider the baton or scepter, symbols of authority stretching back to antiquity. This baseball bat, held by Conway, is not merely sporting equipment. It is a modern-day analogue to the ancient symbols of power and agency, albeit transposed onto the field of play. Its meaning is less about power, and more about collective identity, and local pride. This simple image taps into deep-seated cultural narratives, demonstrating how symbols continually transform, carrying echoes of the past into new contexts. Conway, the baseball player, becomes an unassuming avatar of a cultural tradition.