This Helmar “This Great Game” card celebrates Willie Stargell, the heart and soul of the
Pittsburgh Pirates, whose leadership and power made him one of the defining figures of
1970s baseball. Pictured in the Pirates’ classic black and gold uniform, Stargell is rendered
with quiet confidence and intensity, his bat gripped firmly as he awaits the next pitch. The
background’s clean geometry and bold color field of green and violet lend the composition a
timeless clarity, while the ‘Jolly Roger’ pennant and skull motif at lower right root the design
unmistakably in Pittsburgh lore. Helmar’s hand-painted realism once again captures the
perfect balance of athletic grace and heroic calm.

The reverse bursts into modernity with a vibrant neon reinterpretation of Stargell’s image,
reimagined through a pop-art lens. Deep blacks and electric blues evoke the strength and
rhythm of 1970s design, while the minimalist typography—simply reading
“STARGELL”—adds a confident, almost cinematic finish. Card No. 85 pays homage to ‘Pops’
not only as a champion of the game, but as an enduring icon of baseball’s artistry and
humanity.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.