Card Statistics
Kid Elberfeld is shown with the Washington Senators in a horizontal action composition, stretching away from the base as he completes a throw across the diamond. His extended stride and reaching arm give the card a strong lateral movement that makes especially good use of the uncommon landscape-format T3 design. The pale Washington uniform, blue stockings, and matching cap contrast with the deep green field, while the distant advertisements and city buildings give the scene a convincing early ballpark setting.
The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She models Elberfeld’s uniform with transparent cream, gray, and pale blue washes, using the folds of the trousers and shirt to reinforce the stretching motion of the figure. Strong blue accents in the stockings and cap provide visual anchors, while the distant outfield wall is treated in softened reds, ochres, and browns. The broad horizontal field gives the figure room to move and makes this one of the more overtly action-oriented compositions in the series.
Norman “Kid” Elberfeld, widely known as the “Tabasco Kid,” was one of the scrappiest and most colorful infielders of the Deadball Era. Primarily a shortstop, he played major-league baseball for Detroit, New York, Washington, and Brooklyn and developed a reputation for aggressive fielding, a strong throwing arm, and an exceptionally combative style of play. From 1904 through 1906 he ranked among the American League’s best-hitting shortstops, and his willingness to crowd the plate resulted in 165 career hit-by-pitches. Elberfeld joined Washington in 1910 and remained with the Senators through 1911 before beginning a long second career as a minor-league manager, scout, and teacher who helped develop numerous future major leaguers. (Society for American Baseball Research)
Numbered #56, the Elberfeld card adds another Washington subject while also giving the T3 checklist one of the era’s most recognizable baseball personalities. For Senators collectors, it complements cards of Walter Johnson and Gabby Street; for collectors interested in Deadball baseball more broadly, Elberfeld represents the hard-edged style of play that helped define the period. The horizontal format further distinguishes the card visually from most of the surrounding issues. (Helmar Brewing Co.)
Produced in Helmar’s distinctive handcrafted tradition, the card combines original watercolor artwork, a colorful Deadball Era infielder, and an unusually active landscape composition within the grand-format T3 series.
Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.
- Description: Throwing near base
- Team: Washington Senators
- Population (# Sold): 20
- First Date Sold: 2020-04-21
- Latest Date Sold: 2025-11-25
- Card Status: Retired
- # Sold in past year: 2
- Highest Auction: $ 46.00
- Average Auction Result: $ 18.33
Popularity Rankings
Visit these teammates on the Washington Senators in the T3-Helmar series
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