James Edward "Jim" McTamany, Center Field, Kansas City Cowboys, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This photographic print of Jim McTamany, Kansas City Cowboys' center fielder, was produced around 1887 as part of a series of baseball cards for Old Judge Cigarettes. McTamany is depicted in the act of throwing a ball, his arm raised high. This pose, seemingly simple, echoes through history, resonating with the ancient gesture of offering. The raised arm, ball in hand, is an act of presentation, reminiscent of religious iconography where figures offer gifts or sacrifices to the heavens. The baseball itself, a small sphere clutched in his hand, can be seen as a modern-day orb, a symbol of power and control. Consider how this same gesture appears in depictions of emperors or deities offering their dominion to the world. McTamany, in this context, becomes a hero in the modern arena. This is no mere coincidence, but a reflection of our deep-seated need for figures of authority and our subconscious desire to imbue them with symbolic power. We see in him the embodiment of skill, strength, and, perhaps, even a touch of the divine. The image resonates with a primal appreciation for those who excel in the games we hold sacred.