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Roger Maris is presented in Helmar’s T4 series with Kansas City in a composed left-handed batting stance, his feet set firmly as he holds the bat high behind his shoulder and looks toward the pitcher. The cream Athletics uniform, dark blue cap with red “A,” blue undersleeve, and boldly striped blue-and-red stockings give the figure a strong Kansas City identity. Maris’s upright posture and compact hand position suggest a hitter waiting calmly for the pitch rather than beginning his swing. The pose is restrained but purposeful, capturing the controlled preparation of a player whose compact stroke would later become one of the most famous in baseball history.

The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She develops the pale uniform with soft cream, ochre, gray, and muted blue-green washes, using darker shading through the shirt, waist, and trouser folds to give the standing figure volume. The blue cap, sleeve band, and striped stockings supply the principal color accents, while the warm wooden bat creates a strong diagonal behind Maris’s head and shoulders. The ballpark setting is especially effective, with the blue-gray grandstand rising along the right side of the composition and a small building and open landscape visible beyond the outfield. These quieter architectural and landscape elements give the painting a distinctly intimate, small-ballpark atmosphere.

Roger Maris began his major-league career with Cleveland in 1957 before joining the Kansas City Athletics the following year. A strong left-handed hitter and excellent defensive outfielder, Maris showed considerable promise in Kansas City before a trade to the New York Yankees transformed the course of his career. His compact swing, patience, and ability to drive the ball with unusual power made him an ideal fit for Yankee Stadium and placed him at the center of one of baseball’s most celebrated home-run races.

Maris won consecutive American League Most Valuable Player Awards in 1960 and 1961. His 1961 season became one of the defining chapters in baseball history when he hit 61 home runs, surpassing Babe Ruth’s long-standing single-season record of 60. Maris also led the league with 141 runs batted in that year and helped the Yankees win consecutive World Series championships in 1961 and 1962. Later in his career, he contributed to another championship with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1967, giving him three World Series titles.

Numbered #30, the Maris card is particularly notable for presenting him during his Kansas City years, before the historic accomplishments that would make him one of the best-known players of the early 1960s. The upright batting stance, bright Athletics colors, striped stockings, wooden bat, and intimate ballpark setting give card #30 a distinctive visual character within the T4 series. Maris’s two MVP Awards, 61-home-run season, three World Series championships, and central place in one of baseball’s most famous record pursuits make him one of the most historically compelling subjects in the issue.

Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.

• Description: At bat
• Team: Kansas City Athletics
• Population (# Sold): 16
• First Date Sold: 2022-08-16
• Latest Date Sold: 2026-06-16
• Card Status: Active
• # Sold in past year: 3
• Highest Auction: $ 111.38
• Average Auction Result: $ 35.81

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