This beautifully executed card from the Helmar R319 series honors Mike “King” Kelly,
one of the most colorful and celebrated players of the nineteenth century. Artist
Sanjay Verma portrays Kelly in his bold Boston uniform, leaning casually against a
classical column while gripping his bat with easy confidence. The deep blue of his
jersey contrasts elegantly with the warm golden background, creating a composition
that radiates charisma and vintage charm. Verma’s attention to tone and texture
imbues this portrait with both personality and grace.

Kelly was baseball’s first true superstar—an inventive, daring player whose flair for
the dramatic captivated fans and redefined the sport’s appeal. A key figure for both
the Chicago White Stockings and the Boston Beaneaters, he was a master baserunner,
clever strategist, and a fan favorite whose antics inspired the popular song
“Slide, Kelly, Slide.” Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945, Kelly remains
a symbol of baseball’s exuberant and formative years.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.