Helmar “This Great Game” Card #15 – Harvey Kuenn (Detroit Tigers)

This Helmar art card presents Harvey Kuenn, the smooth-swinging infielder and outfielder whose keen eye and consistent bat made him a fixture in the Detroit Tigers’ lineup during the 1950s. The portrait shows Kuenn ready at the plate, his expression calm yet focused, the bat poised just behind his shoulder. The artist’s use of warm oranges and purples in the background evokes a twilight game at Briggs Stadium, while the cool greens and blues below create balance and depth. The soft lighting highlights Kuenn’s youthful features, recalling his early years as one of baseball’s most promising hitters. The artwork’s subtle texture and aged border reinforce Helmar’s signature fusion of nostalgia and craftsmanship, giving the piece the feel of a vintage gum card come to life.

Born in West Allis, Wisconsin, in 1930, Harvey Kuenn was a line-drive specialist known for his ability to spray hits across all fields. After debuting with Detroit in 1952, he quickly established himself as one of the American League’s most dependable hitters, leading the league in hits four times and batting average once. Kuenn earned the 1953 Rookie of the Year Award and appeared in ten All-Star Games over his career. His lifetime batting average of .303 reflected his disciplined approach and refined technique. Though traded to Cleveland in 1960 in a headline swap for Rocky Colavito, Kuenn remained a respected figure throughout baseball. He later managed the Milwaukee Brewers, guiding the “Harvey’s Wallbangers” team to the 1982 American League pennant.

Helmar’s “This Great Game” series immortalizes baseball’s classic figures through richly painted portraiture. Each hand-crafted card is printed on heavyweight, vintage-textured stock and subtly aged to capture the spirit of pre-expansion-era baseball. Card No. 15 honors Harvey Kuenn—a model of professionalism and hitting mastery in Detroit’s proud baseball tradition.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.