William H. "Yank" Robinson, Shortstop, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1886

This is William H. "Yank" Robinson, Shortstop, St. Louis Browns, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes, a lithograph card made by Goodwin & Company. Observe how the convergence of baseball and cigarette cards, speaks to an era where sports figures became entwined with commerce. The repeated chevron motif stitched to the baseball uniform, echoes archaic traditions of symbolic representation and ritualistic repetition, appearing in ancient textiles, architectural ornaments, and family crests, carrying messages of protection and belonging. Consider how these motifs are often associated with protective deities, intended to guard individuals or communities. In that context, this seemingly decorative pattern evokes subconscious feelings of security and tribal affiliation. In a sense, the baseball player is presented as a modern-day hero, adorned with protective symbols intended to instill trust and admiration in the viewer, with the cigarette brand subliminally aligned to the notions of triumph and reverence.