Helmar T206 Series – Johnny Yelle (Detroit)
                                                Card No. 486

Helmar’s T206 portrait of Johnny Yelle brings forward the sturdy catcher of the Detroit Tigers
in a close, almost confrontational pose. His square jaw and steady gaze are offset by the
softly graded tones of Sanjay Verma’s gouache background—bands of ochre, sky blue, and
spring green that balance the stoic realism of Yelle’s features. The painter’s hand emphasizes
texture and wear, from the gentle creasing of the uniform to the quiet dignity of a working
player’s expression.

Yelle was a serviceable backstop during the 1920s, remembered for his reliability behind the
plate rather than his hitting. A teammate of Ty Cobb during the Hall of Famer’s twilight
seasons, he represented the countless journeymen whose contributions steadied major
league rosters through baseball’s transitional years. This portrait captures the humility and
quiet pride of a professional who earned his place the hard way.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.