Helmar “This Great Game” Card #36 – Joe Black (Brooklyn Dodgers)

This striking Helmar “This Great Game” portrait presents Joe Black with quiet dignity and strength. The artist positions Black in his Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, arms folded across the foreground as he looks directly toward the viewer. The geometric red and green background, softened by crosshatched patterns, gives the composition a rhythm and vibrancy that recalls the energy of Ebbets Field and the postwar era. The confident expression, illuminated by subtle highlights, reflects both poise and perseverance—qualities that defined Black’s brief but brilliant baseball career. Rendered with warmth and precision, the painting pays homage to a pitcher who broke barriers and stood tall under pressure.

Joe Black was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, in 1924. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he began his professional career in the Negro Leagues, pitching for the Baltimore Elite Giants. His powerful fastball and disciplined command quickly made him one of the most respected pitchers in the league. When he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952, he became one of the first Black pitchers to find success in the Major Leagues—and what a debut it was. Black went 15–4 that season with a 2.15 ERA and was named National League Rookie of the Year. He also made history by becoming the first African-American pitcher to win a World Series game, defeating the Yankees in Game 1 of the 1952 Fall Classic.

Though injuries shortened his career, Joe Black’s impact on and off the field endured. After baseball, he earned a master’s degree and became an educator, executive, and public speaker, inspiring young people with lessons of perseverance and dignity. His life embodied the ideals of courage, discipline, and grace—qualities that transcended sport itself.

Helmar’s “This Great Game” series celebrates pioneers whose influence went beyond the diamond. Card No. 36 honors Joe Black—a man who stood at the crossroads of talent, integrity, and history.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.