Card Statistics
Tommy Holmes is presented in Helmar’s T3 series with the Boston Nationals in an informal kneeling pose, resting on one knee with a bat planted vertically before him. The cream Braves uniform, blue cap and stockings, and flowing blue “Boston” script give the figure a clear club identity, while the colorful Native American head patch on the sleeve adds one of the strongest decorative details in the composition. The relaxed pose and direct expression make this card feel more like a carefully arranged portrait than an action study.
The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She models the pale uniform with soft cream, gray, and warm ochre washes, using deeper shadows around the shoulders, waist, and folded trouser legs to give the kneeling figure weight. The strong blue cap, script lettering, and stockings provide the principal color accents, while the long brown bat creates a powerful vertical element through the center of the composition. The distant ballpark architecture is reduced to a muted band of arches and stonework, allowing Holmes to remain the dominant focus.
Thomas Francis “Tommy” Holmes was one of the National League’s finest hitters during the 1940s and a central figure for the Boston Braves. A left-handed batting outfielder, Holmes reached the majors with Boston in 1942 and quickly developed into an exceptionally consistent contact hitter. His finest season came in 1945, when he batted .352, led the National League in hits, doubles, and home runs, and put together a 37-game hitting streak.
Holmes remained a productive hitter through the remainder of the decade and played an important role on the 1948 Braves club that won the National League pennant. He finished that season with a .325 batting average as Boston reached the World Series for the first time since 1914. Over his major-league career, Holmes accumulated more than 1,500 hits and a lifetime batting average above .300, establishing himself as one of the more reliable offensive players of his generation.
Numbered #167, the Holmes card adds an important representative of the Braves’ 1940s era to the T3 checklist. The kneeling pose, prominent bat, and distinctive Boston sleeve patch give the card considerable visual character, while Holmes’ outstanding 1945 season and role on the 1948 pennant winner provide strong historical interest.
Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.
- Description: Kneeling
- Team: Boston Braves
- Population (# Sold): 14
- First Date Sold: 2023-01-11
- Latest Date Sold: 2026-06-02
- Card Status: Active
- # Sold in past year: 2
- Highest Auction: $ 48.00
- Average Auction Result: $ 17.18
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Visit these teammates on the Boston Braves in the T3-Helmar series
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