Card Statistics
Dave “Beauty” Bancroft is presented in Helmar’s T3 series during his Philadelphia years, shown just after releasing a throw across the diamond. His body remains turned through the motion, with the throwing arm extended and his attention directed toward the play. The pale Phillies uniform, red cap and stockings, and bold chest emblem stand against a dark green field and a dramatic orange-red sky, giving the card a particularly warm and striking atmosphere.
The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She models Bancroft’s uniform with soft cream, gray, and muted violet washes, using stronger red accents in the cap, chest emblem, and stockings to organize the composition. The face and exposed hand are rendered in warmer tones, while the distant grandstand and glowing sky are simplified into broad bands of color. The result combines careful figure work with a strongly atmospheric background, giving the card both clarity and visual richness.
Dave Bancroft was one of the finest defensive shortstops of his generation. He joined Philadelphia as a rookie in 1915 and immediately helped the Phillies capture the first National League pennant in franchise history, earning praise for his range, quick hands, and unusually intelligent play at shortstop. In 1920 he was traded to the New York Giants, where he became team captain and helped John McGraw’s club win three consecutive pennants from 1921 through 1923 and World Series championships in 1921 and 1922. Bancroft later managed the Boston Braves and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971. (Society for American Baseball Research)
Numbered #50, the Bancroft card is an important addition to the Philadelphia portion of the T3 checklist. His identification with the Phillies captures the formative stage of his Hall of Fame career and connects naturally with other Philadelphia subjects in the set, while his later prominence with the Giants also gives him crossover appeal to collectors building New York team groupings. Helmar’s checklist confirms Bancroft as T3 card #50. (Helmar Brewing Co.)
Produced in Helmar’s distinctive handcrafted tradition, the card combines original watercolor artwork, a Hall of Fame shortstop, and a deliberately vintage presentation inspired by the grand-format baseball cards of the tobacco era.
Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.
- Description: Thowing
- Team: Philadelphia Phillies
- Population (# Sold): 15
- First Date Sold: 2020-04-28
- Latest Date Sold: 2025-11-02
- Card Status: Active
- # Sold in past year: 1
- Highest Auction: $ 88.00
- Average Auction Result: $ 27.00
Popularity Rankings
Visit these teammates on the Philadelphia Phillies 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
