Charles William "Charlie" Ganzel, Catcher, Detroit Wolverines, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1887

This is a trade card of Charlie Ganzel, catcher for the Detroit Wolverines, printed by Goodwin & Company in 1887. Here, Ganzel holds a baseball bat across his body. This pose, while seemingly simple, echoes the classical contrapposto, a weight shift that lends the figure a dynamic, lifelike presence. Consider how heroes, athletes, and even gods have been depicted through millennia, all subtly shifting their weight. You see it in Doryphoros by Polykleitos from ancient Greece, and even in Renaissance paintings of Saint Sebastian. What begins as a display of physical prowess and athletic capability evolves into a symbol of balance and resilience. It becomes ingrained in our collective memory. This pose resurfaces, each time adapted to new contexts, continually reminding us of the enduring human quest for balance.