Thomas J. "Tom" Dolan, Catcher, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1889

This photographic print from 1887, produced by Goodwin & Company, presents Thomas J. "Tom" Dolan, catcher for the St. Louis Browns. Notice how Dolan holds the baseball, poised and ready. This gesture echoes across centuries, reminiscent of classical sculptures of athletes preparing for the games, as it embodies the tension and potential energy of a coiled spring, ready to unleash. Think of Myron’s Discobolus, the discus thrower, whose stance captures a similar moment of anticipation before action. This pose taps into a deep, collective memory of strength, agility, and the thrill of competition. The image resonates with the psychological anticipation inherent in the moment before action, engaging viewers on a primal level. The symbol has appeared in different contexts from the discus thrower, to a baseball player. Observe the cyclical progression of the symbol of anticipation before action. The meaning is always evolving, but yet is always deeply psychological.