This Helmar “This Great Game” card captures Jerry Koosman, the charismatic southpaw
whose clutch performances defined the New York Mets’ rise to glory in the late 1960s. The
portrait shows Koosman beaming with exuberant energy, fingers pointed skyward as if
celebrating another Mets victory. Rendered in Helmar’s hallmark gouache realism, the
composition blends optimism and youthful vitality, framed by pastel tones that evoke the dawn
of a new baseball era. The border design and typography recall mid-1960s print advertising,
reflecting the spirit of the expansion-era game.

The reverse of the card transforms Koosman’s lively pose into a striking pop-art tableau—set
against a bold magenta and indigo backdrop, with the Helmar logo and the tagline “Always
Exotic” adding playful modern contrast. Card No. 118 celebrates Koosman not only as a hero
of the Miracle Mets but as a symbol of baseball’s enduring joy and the artistry of Helmar’s
hand-painted collectible tradition.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.