Helmar’s “This Great Game” card #42 captures the incomparable Satchel Paige in the twilight
of his legendary career, donning the green-and-gold of the Kansas City Athletics. Sanjay
Verma’s rendering conveys Paige’s easy grace and wry confidence—his half-smile suggests
both amusement and mastery, as if he knows more about the game than anyone else on the
field. The warm, pastel sky behind him contrasts beautifully with the crisp whites and greens
of his uniform, infusing the portrait with both dignity and nostalgia. This image celebrates not
only the man’s immense skill but also the mythic aura that surrounded him wherever he
pitched.

The reverse bursts into psychedelic radiance, featuring the Kansas City A’s iconic pink
elephant rendered in bold neon. The vintage-style radio promotion—“Catch the games with
Monte Moore and Red Rush on KCMO 810 AM”—grounds the artwork in a specific moment of
1960s American pop culture. The black field and saturated colors create an electrifying
contrast, transforming a simple broadcast reminder into a piece of living Americana. Card No.
42 stands among the most evocative of the series, fusing baseball history, mid-century
design, and Helmar’s distinct visual flair into one unforgettable tribute to the great Satchel
Paige.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.