This graceful Helmar art card presents Pee Wee Reese, the beloved Brooklyn Dodgers
shortstop and captain, holding two bats across his chest in quiet readiness. The artwork
radiates warmth, with the soft glow of a pastel sunset sky and the stadium rendered in
gentle tones of rose, violet, and amber. Reese’s familiar Dodger blues stand in vivid
contrast, his slight build and poised stance reflecting the intelligence and calm
assurance that made him one of the game’s most respected leaders. The composition’s clean
geometry and subtle shading evoke the harmony and discipline of his play on the field.

Harold “Pee Wee” Reese anchored the Dodgers’ infield from 1940 through 1958, a ten-time
All-Star and essential voice of unity during baseball’s integration era. As team captain,
Reese famously stood by Jackie Robinson amid the racial hostility of 1947, offering an arm
of friendship that symbolized courage and sportsmanship beyond statistics. Though modest
at the plate, his keen fielding and leadership helped carry Brooklyn to seven pennants and
their long-awaited 1955 World Series triumph.

Helmar’s “This Great Game” series pays tribute to mid-century legends through hand-painted
imagery that recalls the artistry of classic gum cards. Each card is printed on heavy,
textured stock, its borders lightly toned to suggest decades of cherished handling. Card
No. 6 captures the quiet dignity of Pee Wee Reese, a player whose grace, loyalty, and
moral strength remain inseparable from the spirit of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.