Smith, Shortstop, Boston, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887 - 1890

This photographic card of Smith, a Boston shortstop, was created by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge Cigarettes series. Here, we see the player bent over, his hand reaching toward the ball, a pose reminiscent of the classical figure of the discus thrower—the Diskobolos. The Diskobolos is forever captured in the moment of poised energy before release, embodying potential and anticipation, much like Smith here, ready to spring into action. This gesture, repeated across millennia, shows the athlete in the moment just before action. It connects Smith not just to the ancient ideals of physical prowess and beauty, but also to our shared human experience of preparation and anticipation. It is through such echoes that we begin to understand how images resonate across time, engaging our collective memory and subconscious.