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This ballplayer adopts one of the classical ballplaying stances as he kneels down on one leg to receive the bouncing ball with his hip. His whole waist is wrapped by heavy padding, because the ball weighed several pounds and was potentially very dangerous to hit without protective gear.


Figurine of a ballplayer
Maya
Late Classic (600-900 A.D.)
Jaina island, State of Campeche
Clay with vestiges of white and blue pigments
11.9 cm.
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico.

Photo © Jorge Pérez de Lara