Once I noticed this particular occurrence of an athlete sharing the stage with a legendary artist, I began to notice several more in my archives. So, I thought it might be fun to go through and share a few of the more prominent examples.

Wrigley Field

The Friendly Confines of Chicago’s Wrigley Field, with its combination of close proximity of fans to the players and Otis Shepard serving as art director for so many years, provides several excellent examples of this type of image.

Ernie Banks & Otis Shepard

Fergie Jenkins & Otis Shepard

Hank Aaron & Otis Shepard

Jackie Robinson & Willard Mullin

In the historic photo below, Jackie Robinson checks out the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers Player Roster brochure, with a cover featuring artist Willard Mullin’s iconic Brooklyn Bum character. What’s ironic about the image is that the brochure was printed before the decision was made to promote Jackie to the Dodgers, so his name is not listed on the roster.

Carl Hubbell, Bobo Newsom and Willard Mullin

In this classic newspaper photo, Hubbell and Newsom can be seen standing in front of an enlarged Willard Mullin illustration depicting Newsom’s 20 season career, which included 17 stops among nine of the then 16 major league teams.

A larger version of the image can be seen in this wire photo, available on ebay.

Jim Kaat and Ken Haag

Looking closely at this picture of Jim Kaat with some of his career memorabilia, you can see a 1966 editorial cartoon by artist Ken Haag on the wall behind Jim.

Preacher Roe and Lon Keller

The always entertaining Substack (you are reading it, aren’t you?) recently shared this great wire photo of Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Preacher Roe checking out the 1953 NFL Yearbook, which featured a beautiful cover by artist Lon Keller.

Pelé and Wayland Moore

In this 1968 photo promoting an upcoming soccer match, Brazilian great Pelé is seen holding a ball adorned with the logo of the Atlanta Chiefs soccer team. The designer of the Chiefs’ logo? Legendary Atlanta Braves (and so much more) Art Director Wayland Moore.

Know of any other shots of athletes & artists?

If you’re aware of any other photos that feature athletes and legendary please share them or leave a comment using the button below.

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For this week’s Throwback Thursday, we’re throwing it back to 1968 when “Pistol Pete” Maravich looked like Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory but would hit the court and throw down 40+ points per game.

And that’s BEFORE the 3-point shot.

Bazinga!

This week’s Well-Loved Wednesday entry comes from collector, Cardinals super-fan, and all-around great guy, Pete Scribner. This 1956 Topps Mickey Mantle features slightly fuzzy corners, small creases only noticeable under magnification and almost imperceptible traces of tape. It truly fits Beauty of a Game grading guidelines, which stipulate that all cards of Mantle, Mays, Aaron and Williams are deemed MINT.

Not only is this a ‘56 Mantle, it was also the final card Pete needed for his 1956 Topps complete set. Almost. “I actually still had to get a checklist after it (which I purchased soon after the Mantle), so technically, it wasn’t THE card that completed the set. But it was definitely the one I feared I would never get!” Don’t worry Pete, I never counted checklists, especially when they’re unnumbered. Congrats on finishing the ‘56 set!

You can follow Pete on Twitter and Bluesky.

Would You Like to Share Your Well-Loved Card?

Well-loved. Cards with character. Cards with stories. Wallet cards.

No matter what you call them, there’s no denying that for hardcore card collectors true love is unconditional. Each Wednesday we’ll share one card that, while it may not appeal to grading companies, holds a special place in the collections of our readers.

To learn how to submit your own mishandled masterpiece for a future Well-Loved Wednesday post, just send us a message.

Today’s Two for Tuesday is the first entry in the Two Color Classic series, 1975’s Joe Garagiola Bazooka Big League Bubble Gum Championship program. Using only two colors, Topps Chewing Gum managed to create a cover that fit the Bazooka brand while hearkening back to an earlier era of design yet fitting totally into the aesthetic of the mid 70s. The Bubble Gum Blowing Championship would later be immortalized in the 1976 Topps set with card #564, showing champion Kurt Bevacqua of the Milwaukee Brewers.

For today’s Maker Monday, I’m taking a look at an awesome Substack account. At , author and historian Tim Brown digs into gridiron history to examine how football’s evolution shapes today's game. Brown is the author of five books on football history, appears on various football history podcasts, and has been quoted in articles by The Athletic, The Chicago Tribune, ESPN, and other publications.

While I enjoy and am educated by Brown’s articles, being dedicated to athletic aesthetics, I’m often blown away by the quality and quantity of the imagery in each post. Vintage photographs and catalog pages abound, illustrating each post and adding depth to the thoroughly researched content. Subscribe to Football Archaeology today - if you’re a fan of football history or simply enjoy vintage sports imagery, you won’t be disappointed.

Below is just a taste of some of the great images that accompany Tim’s posts.

Earlier this week, artist Graig Kreindler posted an in-progress photo of a Ted Williams piece he was working on. Beyond the usual awesomeness that is Graig’s works-in-progress, what caught my eye was the last sentence of his caption: “Card collectors should certainly recognize the pose.”

To say that collectors should recognize the pose may be a bit of an understatement. Not only should the image be familiar to card collectors, but it is perhaps the most widely used image of the beloved Hall of Famer and baseball icon.

The Original Photo

Taken by photographer George Woodruff, the image is believed to have been captured in 1953, shortly after Williams returned from the Korean War.

Topps Baseball Cards

The Topps Chewing Gum company quickly made good use of the image, using it for Ted’s cards in their 1954, 1955, and 1956 sets.

Topps also used the image in its 1976 set, for the All-Time All-Stars card of Ted.

Ted’s 1954 card was also the basis for part of its Project 2020 Art Set, where noted artists reimagined the ‘54 issue.

1959 Fleer

For all that Topps has used the image over the years, Fleer made perhaps the strongest single use of the image, virtually making it the centerpiece of their 1959 Ted Williams set. The photo was used extensively on wax packs and boxes. In addition, a colorized version of the image was used on card #63, Ted’s All-Star Record.

Other Cards

In addition to the cards issued by Topps and Fleer, the photo has been used countless times over the years by various other card producers.

The photograph was also referenced by artist Mike Gardner for the cover of the November / December 1993 issue of Legends Sports Memorabilia.

Advertising

The photo has also been used in various advertising campaigns and point of sale pieces through the years. Soft drinks Moxie and Ted’s Creamy Root Beer have created pieces utilizing the image. Reproductions abound in this area, so be wary of pieces that seem too well preserved to be authentic.

Wrap Up

Ted Williams was one of the most popular and legendary baseball players of the 1940s and 50s. Couple that with his military service in WWII and the Korean War, and he is a true American hero. Given this, it’s easy to assume he was one of the more photographed individuals of that era. So it’s a bit perplexing to me that a single image should be used so often for so many different items. But then again, it IS a great image, and neither photography nor image reproduction of the time were on par with what is available today.

If you are aware of any other uses of the Woodruff photo, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the button below.

With the July 4th holiday last weekend, my feeds were full of various tributes to the Red, White, and Blue. But none of them hit me quite like this 1983 Topps All-Star styled “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes from artist Gummy Arts. If you were a wrestling fan in the ‘80s you typically either watched the WWF, with grapplers like Hulk Hogan, The Honkeytonk Man, and The Ultimate Warrior, or you watched the NWA, with the likes of Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, and Arn Anderson. I was a fan of the latter, and The American Dream, the son of a plumber from Austin, Texas, was one of my favorites. To see him given the Gummy Arts treatment on that iconic ‘83 All-Star design was just too much ‘Merican awesomeness for my inner 11-year-old.

Thanks to Gummy Arts for allowing me to share his work!

This Thursday I’m throwing it back exactly 70 years - to July 9, 1956 when Hometown Hero Tom Brewer, of the Boston Red Sox, was on the cover of SI’s All-Star Game Preview. Brewer, who would end the season with a career-best record of 19-9, earned the only All-Star Game nod of his career in 1956. It’s always a thrill to see Brewer among Mantle, Musial, Snider and other baseball greats on the cover. I was fortunate to have my own copy of that issue autographed by Tom in 2009 when the Cheraw High School baseball field was named in his honor.

This beauty was purchased from legendary hobby dealer Chandy Greenholt for the princely sum of $1 back at a Charlotte, NC show back in the early 2000s. A buck for a Babe was just too good to pass up. The card was later sent to another collector working on the set. It is gorgeous though, isn’t it?

This shot from Spring Training of 1956 shows two baseball pioneers. Brooklyn Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson, the first African-American player in the modern era, entering his final MLB season, and Cincinnati Reds rookie Frank Robinson, later to become MLB’s first African-American Manager. The one-season overlap in their careers provides a unique bridge between eras of baseball history.

I’m on vacation this week, so I’m pulling an audible for this week’s Daily Dingers. For today’s Maker Monday, I’m spotlighting Jimmy Lonetti at D&J Glove Repair and encourage you to go back and read our Artist Spotlight from a while back.

In 1983 the Fleer corporation reached the pinnacle of sticker design and technology with their baseball stickers. Topps cards had their gum (or a somewhat passable facsimile), Donruss cards had their Dick Perez puzzles but Fleer had been relegated to including stickers in their baseball card packs. In 1982 the team stickers had been rather bland in design and the hats were illustrated in a strange way. But in 1983 Fleer managed to put together the complete package and released stickers that really captured the times (at least in the mind of an 11-year old). Color gradient background. Nice, stylized team caps. To a young kid just beginning to study the game’s history and look closer at baseball logos and iconography, the ‘83 Fleer stickers were a favorite and treasured parts of budding card collections.

Even if we did peel off some of those stickers and put them on various furniture and walls. Sorry, Mom.

This week’s Well-Loved Wednesday entry comes from Boston Globe sports columnist, and author of The Boston Globe Story of The Celtics, Chad Finn. You can follow Chad on Bluesky.

From Chad:

I became a fan in ‘78, when I was 8. Didn’t have the best ending that year. 😆 That coincided with the start of my card collecting, which has continued off and on my whole life.

Butch Hobson was my favorite player, but Fisk and Lynn were on the podium. I carried their cards in my Toughskins … well, pretty clearly, often. It doesn’t show up clearly on the card, a bit faded now, but I also traced over his name and the Sox insignia with a marker. The card has been through some stuff. 😆

Fred loves talking baseball and told me once after an interview to call him anytime. So I look for reasons to call — on the anniversary of his 10-RBI game, to talk about Jackie Bradley Jr.’s defense, to discuss being a phenom when Roman Anthony came up.

Finally met him in person at an event in Boston over the winter. Nicest guy around. His wife took a picture of us. My 8-year-old self wouldn’t believe it.

Would You Like to Share Your Well-Loved Card?

Well-loved. Cards with character. Cards with stories. Wallet cards.

No matter what you call them, there’s no denying that for hardcore card collectors true love is unconditional. Each Wednesday we’ll share one card that, while it may not appeal to grading companies, holds a special place in the collections of our readers.

To learn how to submit your own mishandled masterpiece for a future Well-Loved Wednesday post, just send us a message.

I have always loved this shot of Mark “The Bird” Fidrych and Big Bird. Both the composition and the colors are remarkable, as we see two figures walking away from the camera, chatting as if two old friends catching up. Which, they were.

Although I’m too young to remember “The Summer of The Bird”, I am old enough to remember when his baseball cards, and his larger-than-life personality, still resonated with collectors and baseball fans. He was probably the first example I knew of “a character” in sports. And Big Bird was perhaps my favorite character on my first favorite show. So this Joe McNally photo has always resonated with me, as I’ve seen it several times over the years.

But a while back I saw the photo and a link to the photographer’s blog and the beautifully written Goodbye, Bird. Sometimes the stories behind the images can be as powerful as the images themselves and “Goodbye, Bird” is a great example of that.

Sarah Roe, the artisan behind Stitch & Roe, takes vintage sporting goods and recycles them into beautiful leather wallets and accessories. Whether it’s a customer’s old baseball glove or a piece that Sarah herself has sourced, it’s sure to turn into a treasured piece in her workshop. According to Sarah, “The most rewarding part of this work isn’t creating wallets, notebook covers, or keepsakes. It’s hearing the stories behind the materials and helping preserve a small piece of someone’s life in a form that can be carried, used, and eventually passed down.” You can follow Sarah and Stitch & Roe on X and Instagram.

Oooh yeah! When Graig first shared this piece a couple of days ago, I knew instantly I wanted to share it for this week’s Fresh Work Friday. Although I love seeing Graig’s (or any artist, for that matter) works in progress, this piece has a special meaning to me as a child of the 1980s.

For those of you unaware, Randy Poffo was signed out of high school by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1971. He later played in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system but never made it out of the minors. Following the ending of his baseball career in 1974, Poffo followed his father into his line of work, professional wrestling. Poffo would take the ring name Randy “Macho Man” Savage, going on to become one of the biggest stars of wrestling in the 1980s. Although Poffo’s dream of becoming a baseball star never came to pass, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Thanks to Graig Kreindler for allowing me to share his work!

In 1972 Rawlings offered what may be the most beautiful baseball glove in the game’s history. Featuring red, white and blue leather, and the autographs of the previous two World Series MVPs, the World Series Special was a true sight to behold. And as the preeminent trade publication for the sporting goods field at the time, The Sporting Goods Dealer featured a gorgeous full-color shot of the back of the glove, as well as the box, along with some ad copy on the cover of a ‘72 issue.

Sadly, time has not been kind to these gloves as the dyed leather is prone to extreme color fading, especially the blue leather which is often seen today as more of a muted turquoise.

Intro

I’ve followed the Mask & Mitten Instagram account for a while now and always enjoy their posts of vintage catchers gear and memorabilia. But when they recently posted a walk through of their display area, I knew I had to find out more and share their incredible (and beautiful) collection with Beauty of a Game readers. So read on to find out more about this unique collection and I encourage you to view the photos full size (on a computer screen, rather than a phone) if at all possible.

Briefly give us your background.

My name is Jeff Fields. I’m a tool-of-Ignorance devotee, vintage catcher’s equipment collector specializing in pre-1945 gear, and aspiring baseball historian. I’m passionate about preserving and showcasing the history, craftsmanship, and enduring beauty of the backstop.

Did you play sports growing up?

I am a former D1 catcher and MLB draftee.

How did you first get interested in collecting?

I have always had a passion for history, especially the history of baseball. Not just the polished version of the game, but the pure, rough-around-the-edges era that helped shape America's pastime. As a former catcher, I quickly realized that while many collectors focused on baseball's stars and memorabilia, few were dedicated to preserving the history of the game from behind the plate. That realization inspired me to begin collecting and researching vintage catcher's equipment, particularly pieces from baseball's early years. My goal is not only to preserve these artifacts, but also to educate others about the craftsmanship, innovation, toughness, and unique legacy of the catcher's position. Through sharing these pieces and their stories, I hope to showcase the beauty of the backstop and ensure that an important part of baseball history is not forgotten.

What inspires you most in collecting?

There are countless pieces of baseball history sitting in attics, barns, garages, and forgotten storage rooms across America, slowly deteriorating and taking their stories with them. Baseball is America's game, rich with tradition, innovation, and generations of unforgettable moments. Once these artifacts are lost, a part of that history is lost forever. I have always felt that the history of the catcher is one of the most overlooked areas in the hobby. While bats, gloves, jerseys, and player memorabilia often receive much of the attention, the equipment and stories from behind the plate are frequently forgotten. Yet no position on the field evolved more dramatically than the catcher.

The development of masks, chest protectors, mitts, and protective equipment tells a fascinating story of courage, ingenuity, and the evolution of the game itself. My mission is to help preserve these pieces before they disappear, research the stories behind them, and share that knowledge with others. Every artifact saved is another chapter of baseball history preserved for future generations. Through collecting, documenting, and educating, I hope to ensure that the rich legacy of the backstop continues to be appreciated long after these artifacts have left the field.

What is your most prized possession in your collection?

Like most collectors, I have several pieces that rise to the top of my list because of the challenge of finding them and the stories they tell. Among my most prized artifacts is a circa 1910 Reach inflatable chest protector, a remarkable example of the innovation that helped shape the catcher's position during baseball's early years. I am also fortunate to own several late 1800s pre-weld "goggle eye" face masks, often referred to by collectors as "Spider-Man" masks because of their distinctive appearance. These masks represent some of the earliest efforts to protect catchers from the dangers of the game. Finding original examples today is becoming increasingly difficult, especially those that have not been bent, repaired, or stripped of their original padding. For me, these pieces are more than collectibles. They are surviving artifacts from a time when the game was still evolving and catchers routinely put themselves in harm's way with limited protection.

Who are some of your favorite artists and what do you like about their work?

When it comes to baseball art, I have long admired the work of Graig Kreindler. His paintings do an incredible job of bringing baseball's past to life, capturing the details, personalities, and atmosphere of the game's early eras in a way that few artists can. On social media, I would also give a shout out to the Vintage Baseball Memorabilia Facebook page. They consistently showcase outstanding antique baseball magazines, books, publications, photographs, and memorabilia that help preserve the rich history of the game.

How do you like to display your collection?

One philosophy that guides my collection is simple: a piece stored away is a treasure lost. While preservation is important, I believe these artifacts should be seen, appreciated, and used to educate others about the history they represent. I take a museum-like approach to displaying my collection, showcasing pieces in their current condition rather than attempting to restore them to look new. Every scuff, repair, stain, and sign of wear tells part of the story. Those marks are evidence of the players who used the equipment and the era in which it existed.

As a result, I do very little cleaning or refurbishment. Beyond responsible leather conditioning, climate control, and protection from sunlight, I prefer to leave the pieces largely untouched. My goal is preservation, not restoration. I never want to wash away the history that makes these artifacts unique. The age, character, and imperfections are often what make a piece truly special. To me, these artifacts are more than collectibles. They are historical documents made of leather, canvas, felt, and steel, each with a story that deserves to be preserved and shared with future generations.

This is my study space, or more accurately, my baseball man cave. It serves as both a workspace and a personal museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of the game. While I appreciate all eras of baseball, my collection is primarily focused on the Deadball Era through the 1940s, a period that represents some of the most fascinating years in the baseball’s evolution. My goal has been to create an environment that tells a story. Every piece, whether equipment, photograph, publication, or artifact, helps paint a picture of baseball's early days and the players who helped shape the game we know today.

How can Beauty of a Game readers follow you?

I am on Instagram as Maskandmitten.

Favorite Sports Book?

Glory of their Times by Lawrence Ritter, and Catcher by Peter Morris

Favorite Sports Movie?

The Natural and Bull Durham (hard pick)

Favorite Sports Card?

Ray Schalk 1922 American Caramel Co. card.

Thanks to Jeff Fields for taking the time to answer my questions and sharing his collection with Beauty of a Game readers.

If you liked this article, you may enjoy these Beauty of a Game posts:

Well-loved. Cards with character. Cards with stories. Wallet cards.

No matter what you call them, there’s no denying that for hardcore card collectors true love is unconditional. Each Wednesday we’ll share one card that, while it may not appeal to grading companies, holds a special place in the collections of our readers.

To learn how to submit your own mishandled masterpiece for a future Well-Loved Wednesday post, just send us a message.

Wednesday, 6-24-26: 1909-11 Obak T212 Dillon

Today’s card comes from SABR member/artist/collector/all-around-great guy Jason Schwartz. Jason is a Co-Chair of the SABR Baseball Cards Committee and is a true Renaissance man among the hobby. You can follow him on Instagram and Bluesky.

From Jason:

This card (or portion of a card) comes from the 1909-11 Obak (T212) set and shows Los Angeles Angels managerial legend Frank "Pop" Dillon, winner of four pennants in six years. When the card first hit my radar my knee-jerk instinct was to pass on it. Though I was building a low-grade set of Angels cards, I nonetheless had at least some standards for what condition I could tolerate. Fortunately, the card was still around when I came to my senses.

At first I imagined this Dillon would be my "filler card," part of my collection until I found a reasonable upgrade. Once I had it in hand, however, the Dillon quickly became my favorite card in the set. As someone who regularly took scissors to baseball cards (in the name of art, of course!), I had to admire the cutting skills if nothing else. Plus, there was the added bonus of being able to create instant variations of the card by putting it over different backgrounds: gold glitter paper, Van Gogh's "Starry Night," or a Los Angeles cityscape.

Finally, it's fun to think about what prompted the card's original owner to downsize it in this manner. Might there be an entire army of Pacific Coast Leaguers snipped similarly, or was the honor Dillon's alone?

As Father’s Day gifts, I received a couple of recently released baseball books that are sure to become treasured tomes in the Beauty of a Game library. The first is “The Ballpark and Beyond: An Illustrated Celebration of Baseball’s Rich History” by legendary sports designer Todd Radom. The other is “The Finest in the Field: A History of Baseball Through 50 Iconic Gloves” by baseball historian Ed Wheatley. I’ll be doing full reviews of each book in the coming weeks, after I’ve had time to peruse them more, but both have received great reviews and are highly recommended.