Card Statistics
Addie Joss is presented in Helmar’s T3 series with Cleveland in a composed pitching pose, standing upright with both hands gathered around the glove at chest height as he looks off toward the side. The cream uniform, dark undersleeves, striped stockings, and partially visible “CLEVELAND” lettering establish the club identity, while the restrained stance gives the image a very different character from the more dramatic pitching follow-throughs elsewhere in the series. The open field and expansive clouded sky reinforce the quiet, almost formal quality of the portrait.
The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She models the pale uniform with warm cream, ochre, gray, and cool blue washes, using darker shadows through the sleeves, waist, and trouser folds to give the standing figure solidity. The dark undersleeves and striped stockings provide the principal color contrast, while the brown glove becomes the compact focal point at the center of the composition. The distant tree line is reduced to soft green shapes beneath a broad, luminous sky, keeping the attention firmly on Joss.
Adrian “Addie” Joss was one of the greatest pitchers of the Deadball Era and spent his entire major-league career with Cleveland from 1902 through 1910. A right-hander known for exceptional control and a deceptive delivery, Joss quickly became one of the American League’s dominant pitchers. He won 20 or more games four times and led the league in earned-run average twice.
Joss’s most famous performance came on October 2, 1908, when he pitched a perfect game against the Chicago White Sox in a tense 1–0 victory over Ed Walsh. It remains one of the most celebrated pitching duels in baseball history. Joss finished his career with a 160–97 record and a 1.89 earned-run average, still one of the lowest lifetime marks in major-league history. His career was cut tragically short when he died of tuberculous meningitis in 1911 at age 31.
Numbered #180, the Joss card adds one of the most important early Cleveland pitchers to the T3 checklist. Its calm, centered pose suits a player remembered for precision and control, while Joss’s perfect game, extraordinary career ERA, and abbreviated but brilliant career give the subject substantial historical significance. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978.
Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.
- Description: Hands at Chest
- Team: Cleveland Indians
- Population (# Sold): 15
- First Date Sold: 2023-04-19
- Latest Date Sold: 2026-07-07
- Card Status: Active
- # Sold in past year: 4
- Highest Auction: $ 53.89
- Average Auction Result: $ 29.47
Popularity Rankings
Visit these teammates on the Cleveland Indians in the T3-Helmar series
Click the Card # link to go to Card Info, Click the Player Name link to go the the Player Biography
