Helmar “This Great Game” Card #72 – Dick Groat (Pittsburgh Pirates)

This handsome Helmar art card captures Dick Groat of the Pittsburgh Pirates in a confident batting pose, his bat angled over his shoulder beneath a vivid sky of gold and blue. The artist’s crisp geometry and clean color fields evoke the look of postwar optimism, while Groat’s steady expression reflects the quiet determination that marked his play. The composition celebrates the Pirates’ traditional hues and the strength of a classic shortstop stance.

Dick Groat (1930–2023) was one of baseball’s most consistent and accomplished infielders of the 1950s and early 1960s. A star shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates, he captured the 1960 National League MVP award after leading the league in batting average and guiding his team to a World Series championship. Also an All-American basketball player at Duke, Groat’s athletic grace and leadership made him a standout across two sports.

Helmar’s “This Great Game” series celebrates baseball’s enduring artistry through finely painted portraits reminiscent of mid-century gum cards. Each piece is hand-rendered with attention to tone, detail, and nostalgia—an homage to both the player and the craft of classic baseball illustration.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.