Card Statistics
Johnny Mize is presented in Helmar’s T3 series with St. Louis in a relaxed batting pose, striding forward across the infield with the bat carried loosely in his right hand. The gray Cardinals uniform, red piping, striped stockings, and familiar birds-on-the-bat emblem give the figure an unmistakable St. Louis identity. Rather than showing Mize at the plate in a conventional hitting stance, the image captures him between moments of action, emphasizing his broad, powerful build and calm presence.
The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She models the gray uniform with warm brown, violet, and blue-gray washes, using strong shadows through the trousers and lower torso to give Mize considerable weight and solidity. The red trim, cap stripes, stockings, and Cardinals insignia provide sharp accents against the subdued uniform. The long bat extends diagonally into the open field, while the distant bleachers, palm trees, and softly painted landscape give the scene the character of a warm-weather training ground.
John Robert “Johnny” Mize was one of the great power hitters of the 1930s and 1940s. Nicknamed “The Big Cat,” he reached the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1936 and quickly became one of the National League’s most dangerous hitters. Mize combined exceptional power with unusually disciplined hitting, repeatedly posting high batting averages while also ranking among the league leaders in home runs and runs batted in.
With St. Louis, Mize won the 1939 National League batting championship with a .349 average and led the league in home runs in 1939 and 1940. After later playing for the New York Giants, he joined the Yankees and became an important veteran contributor to their championship clubs of the early 1950s. He finished his career with a .312 batting average, 359 home runs, and more walks than strikeouts—an unusual combination for a hitter of such power.
Numbered #170, the Mize card adds another Hall of Fame slugger to the T3 checklist and returns the series to the Cardinals organization with one of its most formidable prewar hitters. The informal walking pose, bold birds-on-the-bat emblem, and warm training-ground background give the card a distinctive character within the series. Mize was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1981.
Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.
- Description: Long, one-handed swing
- Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- Population (# Sold): 14
- First Date Sold: 2023-01-11
- Latest Date Sold: 2026-06-02
- Card Status: Active
- # Sold in past year: 3
- Highest Auction: $ 48.00
- Average Auction Result: $ 20.82
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Visit these teammates on the St. Louis Cardinals in the T3-Helmar series
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