Helmar “This Great Game” Card #51 – Hal Newhouser

This Helmar “This Great Game” card portrays Hal Newhouser in his Detroit Tigers uniform, captured in mid-delivery beneath a brilliant sunset sky. The image reflects his intensity on the mound and the command that made him one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers of the 1940s.

Hal Newhouser, born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1921, was a hometown hero through and through. Signed by the Tigers as a teenager, he debuted at age 18 and soon developed into the ace of their staff. Known for his fierce fastball and precise control, Newhouser’s career took off during World War II, when many of baseball’s stars were serving overseas.

From 1944 to 1946, Newhouser was nearly untouchable. He won back-to-back American League MVP Awards in 1944 and 1945—the only pitcher ever to achieve that feat—and added a runner-up finish in 1946. In those three seasons, he won 80 games and struck out more than 800 batters, leading the Tigers to the 1945 World Series championship.

Nicknamed “Prince Hal,” Newhouser dominated hitters with a high-riding fastball, sharp curve, and tenacity that defined postwar pitching excellence. He led the league in wins four times and in ERA twice, cementing his reputation as the premier southpaw of his generation.

Even after his peak years, Newhouser remained effective through the early 1950s. Later, as a scout, he continued to shape baseball history—most famously by advocating strongly for the Houston Astros to draft a young Michigan phenom named Derek Jeter.

Newhouser finished his career with 207 wins, a 3.06 ERA, and a legacy as one of the most feared pitchers of his era. In 1992, his achievements were recognized with his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Helmar’s “This Great Game” series celebrates the legends who defined baseball’s golden decades. Card No. 51 honors Hal Newhouser—the Detroit southpaw whose brilliance and heart made him a true prince of the mound.

Original gouache painting by Sanjay Verma.