Card Statistics
Jim Bottomley is presented in Helmar’s T3 series with the St. Louis Cardinals in a compact batting follow-through, his weight shifting forward as he completes the swing. The pale pinstriped uniform, red-and-blue stockings, and soft pink cap stand against a vivid green field and an unusually warm yellow, orange, and rose-colored sky. The pose is restrained but purposeful, giving the card a strong sense of balance while the glowing background adds considerable atmosphere.
The original artwork was painted by Natalia Valiukavich in watercolor. She models Bottomley’s uniform with light cream, gray, and pale violet washes, allowing the pinstripes to remain visible without overwhelming the figure. Stronger red and blue accents in the stockings provide visual rhythm, while the bat is handled in warm brown tones. The softly layered sky and darkened grandstand are treated broadly, keeping the focus on Bottomley while giving the composition a distinctive late-day character.
James “Sunny Jim” Bottomley was one of the most productive first basemen of the 1920s and a central figure in the rise of the St. Louis Cardinals. He became the club’s regular first baseman in 1923 and quickly developed into a powerful run producer. In 1924 he drove in 12 runs in a single game, a major-league record that still stands jointly today. Bottomley helped St. Louis win the 1926 World Series and later earned the 1928 National League Most Valuable Player Award after leading the league in home runs and runs batted in. He finished his career with a .310 batting average, 2,313 hits, and 1,422 RBI and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974. (SABR)
Numbered #69, the Bottomley card gives the St. Louis portion of the T3 checklist one of its essential early Cardinals stars. His presence helps establish a collecting line that can eventually connect the 1920s championship clubs with later St. Louis generations represented elsewhere in the series. For Cardinals collectors, Bottomley is a natural cornerstone alongside figures such as Rogers Hornsby, Jesse Haines, Chick Hafey, Joe Medwick, Dizzy Dean, and Stan Musial. Helmar’s official checklist identifies Bottomley as T3 card #69. (Helmar Brewing Co.)
Produced in Helmar’s distinctive handcrafted tradition, the card combines original watercolor artwork, a Hall of Fame first baseman, and one of the key figures in the emergence of the Cardinals as a championship franchise.
Original watercolor artwork by Natalia Valiukavich.
- Description: batting follow through
- Team: St. Louis Cardinals
- Population (# Sold): 11
- First Date Sold: 2021-07-28
- Latest Date Sold: 2024-05-22
- Card Status: Active
- # Sold in past year: N/A
- Highest Auction: $ 88.00
- Average Auction Result: $ 28.82
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Visit these teammates on the St. Louis Cardinals in the T3-Helmar series
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