Card Statistics
Sandy Koufax is presented in Helmar’s T4 series with Brooklyn in a compact pitching pose, his upper body leaning forward as he grips the baseball behind his back and lowers his glove toward his left knee. The cream Dodgers uniform, bright blue cap, blue undersleeve, and matching stockings give the figure a strong Brooklyn identity, while the slightly bent posture suggests the moment immediately before he begins his delivery. Koufax looks directly toward the plate with an unusually calm, concentrated expression. Rather than emphasizing the violence of his pitching motion, the composition captures the controlled preparation that precedes it.
The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She develops the pale uniform with delicate cream, gray, ochre, and muted blue-violet washes, reserving the strongest color for the brilliant blue cap, sleeve, lettering, and stockings. Subtle shadows along the torso and trousers describe the forward bend of Koufax’s body without making the figure appear overly modeled. The baseball partially concealed behind his back is an especially effective detail, while the brown glove provides a warm counterweight near the center of the composition. Behind him, the green field, distant trees and buildings, and expansive cloud-filled sky are treated softly, giving the painting an open and atmospheric quality.
Sanford “Sandy” Koufax developed from a hard-throwing but erratic young pitcher with Brooklyn into one of the most dominant pitchers baseball has ever produced. After the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, improved control allowed his exceptional fastball and sharply breaking curve to become devastating weapons. From 1961 through 1966 he produced one of the most remarkable sustained pitching peaks in major-league history, overpowering hitters while becoming the unquestioned ace of a championship club.
Koufax won three Cy Young Awards, three pitching Triple Crowns, and the 1963 National League Most Valuable Player Award. He threw four no-hitters, culminating in a perfect game against the Chicago Cubs in 1965, and led the National League in earned-run average for five consecutive seasons. Koufax helped the Dodgers win World Series championships in 1959, 1963, and 1965 and was named World Series Most Valuable Player in both 1963 and 1965. He retired following the 1966 season at only thirty years of age, while still performing at the highest level of the game.
Numbered #22, this Koufax card provides a markedly different interpretation from the earlier T4 image of him in full pitching motion. Here the lowered glove, hidden baseball, forward bend, and concentrated expression emphasize preparation and control rather than release. The bright Brooklyn colors and broad, softly painted sky give card #22 a particularly clean and restrained appearance within the series. Koufax’s three Cy Young Awards, perfect game, four no-hitters, postseason dominance, and extraordinary six-year peak make him one of the most historically significant and collectible subjects in the T4 issue. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.
Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.
- Description: Ball behind back
- Team: Brooklyn Dodgers
- Population (# Sold): 17
- First Date Sold: 2022-07-26
- Latest Date Sold: 2026-07-21
- Card Status: Active
- # Sold in past year: 3
- Highest Auction: $ 112.00
- Average Auction Result: $ 52.94
Popularity Rankings
Visit these teammates on the Brooklyn Dodgers in the Helmar T4 series
Click the Card # link to go to Card Info, Click the Player Name link to go the the Player Biography
