Schoeneck, 1st Base, Indianapolis, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This 1888 baseball card, produced by Goodwin & Company, captures Schoeneck, a 1st baseman for Indianapolis. His raised arm, holding a ball, echoes a gesture as old as time. Consider the hand raised in blessing or supplication—a motif found across cultures from ancient Egypt to Renaissance altarpieces. The act of holding an object aloft becomes symbolic, laden with intention. In Schoeneck’s case, it's a declaration of readiness, a signal of action, or a stance of defense. Yet, like all symbols, its meaning is fluid. The raised hand—think of a conductor leading an orchestra, or a politician addressing a crowd—it's a potent image that taps into our collective understanding of power, authority, and the anticipation of something about to happen. These images of leadership and power have a subconscious way of resonating with viewers, engaging us on a deep psychological level. In a modern context, the meaning is not a divine appeal; it is a proclamation of the player's role in the spectacle of baseball. Such motifs are never truly linear, but cyclical, resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings throughout history.