Ebenezer Ambrose "Ed" Beatin, Pitcher, Cleveland, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This baseball card of Ebenezer Ambrose "Ed" Beatin, a pitcher for Cleveland, was created by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. The image of Beatin, caught in the moment before a pitch, reminds us of the classical contrapposto—the weight shift in the human figure. This posture has been passed down through history, reappearing across ancient sculptures, Renaissance paintings, and even in popular culture. We see it echoed in statues of Roman emperors, the stance of Michelangelo's David, and now, here, in a baseball player. The pitcher's pose becomes more than just an athletic stance, it transforms into a symbol of balance, power, and potential energy. The image subtly engages our collective memory, evoking the emotional impact of these earlier artistic expressions. It's a reminder that even a simple image can carry a powerful and enduring cultural legacy, constantly evolving and reappearing in unexpected ways.