George F. "Piano Legs" Gore, Center Field, New York, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This sepia print from 1887 by Goodwin & Company shows baseball player George Gore in uniform holding a bat. We see a figure of athletic prowess and burgeoning celebrity, immortalized through the then-modern medium of photography. Note the bat held by Gore—not merely a sporting implement, but a symbol of power, virility, and perhaps even aggression. Think back to the scepters of ancient rulers, or the clubs wielded by mythical heroes. The gesture with which he holds this bat carries echoes of these older symbols, a link across time. The image evokes a sense of nostalgia, a longing for simpler times. We are drawn into a deep contemplation of the cyclical nature of human endeavor. The image invites us to reflect on how symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.