Frank D. Wells, Pitcher, Milwaukee, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a photographic print of Frank D. Wells, a baseball pitcher, made by Goodwin & Company for Old Judge Cigarettes. Note the elevated ball above Wells, and his upward reaching hands—a gesture of anticipation that echoes across millennia. Recall the orant pose in early Christian art, figures with arms raised in prayer. This gesture, reaching towards the heavens, transcends mere sport. It evokes a deep-seated human desire for connection and aspiration, a reaching for something beyond ourselves. The act of catching itself, securing the object, brings to mind not only the athletic feat, but an act of possession, a conquering of the elements, of gravity itself. This symbol has undergone transformations, yet its power remains, a potent force engaging viewers on a subconscious level, reminding us of the timeless dance between humanity and the forces that surround us.