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Carl “Butch” Glass is presented in Helmar’s T3 series with the St. Louis Stars in a relaxed full-length pose, standing with one hand on his hip and a bat resting against the ground. The pale uniform, blue cap and stockings, and bold “ST. LOUIS” lettering give the card a strong, direct team identity. The red earth and ballpark architecture behind him make the setting feel more specific and intimate than many of the open-field compositions in the series.

The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She models the uniform with pale cream, gray, and cool blue washes, concentrating the strongest blue in the cap, lettering, and stockings. The long bat forms a pronounced diagonal toward the lower-left corner, while the reddish ground provides a warm counterpoint to the cooler uniform. The background buildings and wooden structures are kept subdued, allowing Glass’s figure to remain dominant.

Carl Lee “Butch” Glass was a left-handed pitcher whose Negro League career extended through much of the 1920s. He pitched for clubs including the Memphis Red Sox, Birmingham Black Barons, Kansas City Monarchs, St. Louis Stars, and Chicago American Giants. Glass joined the St. Louis Stars in 1926, when the club was emerging as one of the important organizations in the Negro National League. He was known especially for his curveball and later had substantial seasons with Memphis, including a 15-win campaign in 1928. He also served as a manager during portions of his career. (Baseball Reference)

Glass’s career connected him with several of the major Black baseball organizations of the period. His time with St. Louis placed him among a club that would soon develop into one of the strongest teams in Negro League baseball, while his later work with Memphis and other organizations reflected the highly mobile careers common among professional Black players of the era.

Numbered #112, the Glass card adds a less familiar but historically substantial Negro League pitcher to the T3 checklist. Its use of “BUTCH” alone on the nameplate also gives the card a particularly period character, reflecting the way nicknames often functioned as a player’s public identity.

Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.

• Description: Leaning on bat
• Team: St. Louis Stars
• Population (# Sold): 12
• First Date Sold: 2021-05-25
• Latest Date Sold: 2024-04-24
• Card Status: Active
• # Sold in past year: N/A
• Highest Auction: $ 46.55
• Average Auction Result: $ 25.53

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