This card from the Helmar "Polar Night" series depicts Grasshopper Jim Wheelock of Boston,
standing lightly on the infield with hands ready to receive the ball. His crisp white uniform,
belt and stockings accented in red, stands out against a clear blue sky and soft tree line
beyond the outfield. The composition has a quiet, orderly balance that mirrors Wheelock's
poised concentration, capturing the calm before play springs into motion.

Wheelock played during the early professional era, part of a generation that helped shape
the modern infield game. His image here suggests the traits most prized in those pioneers:
steady hands, alert footing, and a composed demeanor that anchored the defense on long,
sunlit afternoons of nineteenth century baseball.

Artwork by Valiukevich-Mandel.