Edward M. Daily, Pitcher, Washington Nationals, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This small card, produced by Goodwin & Company around 1887, features Edward M. Daily, a pitcher for the Washington Nationals. Note Daily's poised stance, the ball held aloft, a gesture that transcends mere portraiture. This act of holding an object aloft echoes across time, from ancient depictions of rulers holding orbs of power to religious icons presenting sacred objects. Think of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child, an offering to the world. Daily’s gesture, though secular, carries a similar weight; he presents the baseball as a symbol of skill and American aspiration. Consider how this simple act taps into our collective memory, stirring subconscious associations with power and offering. The cigarette company, through this image, subtly elevates baseball and its players to a near-mythical status. It is as if the very act of playing is a sacred ritual, passed down through generations.