This vividly detailed Helmar “This Great Game” card features Joe Niekro, shown in his
early-career Chicago Cubs uniform. The artwork captures the young right-hander
mid-delivery, rendered with Helmar’s signature use of rich color and textured shading. The
pastel backdrop and bold “CHICAGO” header evoke the 1960s card era, while the small bear
mascot swinging a bat at lower right adds a whimsical period charm. The composition
balances athletic poise with a nostalgic warmth that typifies the Helmar series’ handcrafted
appeal.

The reverse side, styled as a faux movie poster titled “Knuckleballer in Chicago,” humorously
presents Niekro alongside comedienne Phyllis Diller—an imaginative Helmar flourish that
blends sports mythology with cinematic nostalgia. This collectible—Card No. 112—celebrates
Niekro’s tenure with the Cubs before his later success as a master of the knuckleball and a
mainstay of 1970s pitching lore.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.