Card Statistics
Ted Kluszewski is presented in Helmar’s T4 series with Cincinnati in a dramatic first-base fielding stretch, his upper body reaching low across the infield as he extends his glove toward the incoming throw. One foot remains anchored against the base while the opposite leg stretches far across the dirt, creating a broad horizontal composition that emphasizes balance, reach, and flexibility. The cream Cincinnati uniform, dark cap with red “C,” red stockings, and restrained red trim establish the club identity clearly, while the visible baseball settling into the glove makes the play immediately understandable. The image is an especially interesting choice for a player remembered primarily for his tremendous power at the plate.
The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor, and the wide format gives her room to emphasize the geometry of the first baseman’s stretch. Kluszewski’s body forms a long diagonal from the planted foot at the bag to the glove at the opposite edge, while the extended leg creates a second line that nearly parallels the base path. The white base itself is not incidental; it serves as a fixed visual reference that explains exactly how far the player has stretched to make the play. Valiukavich sharpens the glove, baseball, face, and leading hands, then allows the fence, trees, and sky to recede into softer washes. This shifting degree of definition creates depth while also teaching the viewer how the body is positioned in relation to the bag—an effective example of watercolor being used to clarify both movement and baseball technique.
Theodore Bernard “Ted” Kluszewski became one of the National League’s most imposing power hitters during the 1950s. A muscular left-handed first baseman, he was famous for wearing sleeveless Cincinnati uniforms that exposed his unusually large arms, a practical alteration he adopted because conventional sleeves restricted his swing. Kluszewski combined that physical strength with excellent bat control, making him more than simply a home-run hitter. At his peak he was one of the most feared middle-of-the-order bats in the league.
Kluszewski’s greatest season came in 1954, when he hit 49 home runs, drove in 141 runs, and batted .326. Remarkably for such a powerful hitter, he struck out only 35 times that year. He produced four consecutive seasons of at least 35 home runs from 1953 through 1956 and was selected to four All-Star teams. Kluszewski finished his major-league career with 279 home runs, 1,028 runs batted in, and a .298 batting average, later contributing to the Chicago White Sox during their 1959 pennant-winning season.
Numbered #64, the Kluszewski card gives the T4 series an unusual defensive view of one of the era’s most famous sluggers. The extreme first-base stretch, visible baseball, planted foot on the bag, broad horizontal format, and restrained Cincinnati colors give card #64 a particularly distinctive visual identity. Kluszewski’s 49-home-run season, four All-Star selections, sustained run of power in the mid-1950s, and reputation as one of baseball’s strongest yet most disciplined hitters give the card considerable historical and collector interest.
Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.
- Description: Horizontal; reaching, blue cap
- Team: Cincinnati Reds
- Population (# Sold): 17
- First Date Sold: 2023-01-11
- Latest Date Sold: 2026-09-08
- Card Status: Active
- # Sold in past year: 4
- Highest Auction: $ 48.00
- Average Auction Result: $ 23.31
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Visit these teammates on the Cincinnati Reds in the Helmar T4 series
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