This vivid Helmar art card features Del Crandall, the stalwart catcher whose leadership and defensive brilliance helped anchor the Milwaukee Braves during their 1950s glory years. The illustration presents Crandall in a crouched pose, glove open and ready, as he prepares to receive a pitch. His expression is one of calm command—a portrait of a man in total control of the game before him. Behind him, broad shapes of red, blue, and gold form a stylized ballpark backdrop, a signature of Helmar’s modern-vintage aesthetic. The rich, hand-painted tones emphasize texture and posture, from the folds of his uniform to the weathered mitt that defined his profession.

Born in Ontario, California, in 1930, Delmar Wesley Crandall debuted in the majors at age 19 and soon became one of the premier defensive catchers of his generation. A four-time Gold Glove winner and eight-time All-Star, Crandall guided an elite Braves pitching staff that included Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, and Bob Buhl. His steady hand and sharp game-calling were instrumental in the Braves’ 1957 World Series championship and their return to the Fall Classic in 1958. Though often overlooked among flashier contemporaries, Crandall was the heartbeat of Milwaukee’s defense—durable, respected, and fiercely competitive behind the plate.

Helmar’s ‘This Great Game’ series pays homage to baseball’s enduring heroes through richly detailed, hand-crafted artwork. Each card evokes the tactile charm of classic gum issues while offering modern craftsmanship and emotional depth. Printed on heavy, textured stock nd carefully aged to evoke 1930s–1950s authenticity, Card No. 11 celebrates Del Crandall—a catcher’s catcher and a symbol of steadfast professionalism in baseball’s golden era.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.