Card Statistics
Mort Cooper is presented in Helmar’s T3 series with the St. Louis Nationals in the finish of a pitching delivery, his body leaning forward as his throwing arm crosses down in front of him and his weight settles over the lead leg. The cream Cardinals uniform, red piping, striped stockings, and birds-on-the-bat chest emblem give the figure an immediate St. Louis identity. The pose has a compact, forceful quality, with Cooper shown at the instant after release rather than in a static portrait.
The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She models the pale uniform with warm cream, ochre, and gray-green washes, using stronger shadows through the torso and trousers to describe the forward motion of the delivery. The red piping, cap trim, lettering, and stockings provide the strongest color accents, while the dark glove anchors the right side of the figure. Behind Cooper, the deep maroon and green grandstand is painted in broad, shadowed bands, producing a dramatic contrast with the lighter player and bright foreground grass.
Morton Cecil “Mort” Cooper was one of the National League’s best pitchers during the early 1940s and a key figure on the great wartime St. Louis Cardinals clubs. He emerged as a star in 1942, winning 22 games with a 1.78 earned-run average and earning the National League Most Valuable Player Award. That season St. Louis won 106 games and defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series.
Cooper remained one of the league’s dominant starters over the next several seasons, winning 21 games in both 1943 and 1944. He helped the Cardinals win three consecutive National League pennants from 1942 through 1944 and another World Series championship in 1944. Known for his strong fastball and curve, he was especially effective during the peak years of one of the most successful Cardinals teams in franchise history.
Numbered #174, the Cooper card adds another important St. Louis pitching star to the T3 checklist. Its low follow-through pose, richly colored grandstand, and strong Cardinals uniform details give the image considerable visual character, while Cooper’s MVP season and central role in the club’s wartime championships provide substantial historical importance.
Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.
- Description: End of throw; on edge of grass
- Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- Population (# Sold): 15
- First Date Sold: 2023-05-24
- Latest Date Sold: 2026-07-07
- Card Status: Active
- # Sold in past year: 4
- Highest Auction: $ 53.00
- Average Auction Result: $ 14.76
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Visit these teammates on the St. Louis Cardinals in the T3-Helmar series
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