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Helmar’s T3 series continues with Charles “Spider” Baum, one of the most durable pitchers in the early history of the Pacific Coast League. The card shows Baum in a compact pitching pose, ball and glove gathered low as he prepares to begin his delivery. His striped Sacramento uniform is sharply defined against the dark backstop and wooden enclosure behind him, while a seated teammate adds an unusual secondary figure to the scene. The more intimate ballpark setting distinguishes the card from the open-field compositions elsewhere in the series and gives it the feeling of a moment observed close to the action.

The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. Fine linear work describes the pinstripes of Baum’s uniform, while transparent gray and cream washes give the clothing volume without obscuring the underlying drawing. The darker background is particularly effective, with the patterned backstop and weathered wooden wall creating a dense field against which the pale figure stands prominently. Small details—the ball in Baum’s hand, the worn glove, the seated player, and the contrasting blue in the stockings—reward closer examination and make this one of the more narrative compositions in the early T3 group.

Charles “Spider” Baum spent nearly two decades in professional baseball and became one of the defining pitchers of the Pacific Coast League’s early years. He pitched for Los Angeles, Sacramento, Vernon, Venice, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City between 1903 and 1920, recording nine seasons of 20 or more victories. With Sacramento from 1909 through 1912, Baum was already established as one of the league’s dependable workhorses. He later won 30 games for San Francisco in 1915 and retired as the PCL’s career leader in victories, a mark that stood until the 1930s. His long record of success eventually earned him induction into the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame. (MLB.com)

Numbered #13, the Baum card expands the T3 checklist beyond major-league subjects and into the rich history of Pacific Coast League baseball. That gives the series an additional collecting dimension: Sacramento and PCL collectors can pursue players rarely represented in nationally oriented sets, while Baum’s stature within the league makes him considerably more than a regional curiosity.

Produced in Helmar’s distinctive handcrafted tradition, the card combines original watercolor artwork, an important Pacific Coast League subject, and a deliberately vintage presentation inspired by the grand-format baseball cards of the tobacco era.

Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.

• Description: Tossing at sidelines
• Team: Sacramento Sacts
• Population (# Sold): 21
• First Date Sold: 2019-11-26
• Latest Date Sold: 2026-07-07
• Card Status: Retired
• # Sold in past year: 4
• Highest Auction: $ 43.00
• Average Auction Result: $ 16.95

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