Helmar “This Great Game” Card #14 – Wally Post (Cincinnati Reds)

This vibrant Helmar art card captures Wally Post, the powerful right-handed slugger whose booming home runs thrilled fans of the Cincinnati Reds throughout the 1950s. Depicted here in his batting stance, Post gazes out with a quiet determination, the golden backdrop of the batting cage suggesting a moment just before contact. The warm tones—sunlit yellows and bold reds—contrast sharply with the cool greens and blues of the ballpark fence, creating an image rich with nostalgic tension. Behind him, a smaller figure in vintage uniform adds compositional depth, symbolizing the continuity of baseball generations. The crisp detailing of the “Cincinnati” script and the subtle modeling of Post’s expression speak to Helmar’s signature blend of realism and idealized color harmony.

Born in St. Clairsville, Ohio, in 1929, Walter Charles Post signed with the Cincinnati Reds as a teenager and made his major league debut at just 20 years old. Standing 6'2” and built like a linebacker, Post combined strength with balance, producing several seasons of 20-plus home runs. His best campaign came in 1955, when he hit 40 homers and drove in 109 runs, helping Cincinnati remain competitive in the National League’s high-scoring era. Though he later played for the Phillies and Twins, Post remained beloved in Cincinnati for his blue-collar work ethic and his ability to hit majestic drives that seemed to defy gravity. His partnership with teammates like Ted Kluszewski and Gus Bell anchored one of the league’s most feared middle orders of the mid-1950s.

Helmar’s “This Great Game” series celebrates baseball’s enduring legends through hand-painted imagery inspired by classic gum cards. Each card, printed on heavy stock with delicately aged edges, merges artistry and history in tribute to America’s pastime. Card No. 14 honors Wally Post—a quiet power hitter whose bat spoke volumes in Cincinnati’s golden years.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.