R319-Helmar BIG LEAGUE #256 Del Pratt **ORIGINAL ART CARD** 1of1 Proof

Description: PLEASE READ CAREFULLY NO RETURNS This card was the original artwork used for the rest of the cards of this player in the Helmar R319 card set. This card is 1 of 1 and signed by the Helmar artist who painted the card, along with Charles Mandel, the president of the Helmar Brewing Company. Card measures ~3"x 3-3/4". (This Proof was used for R319 Card #256, now a retired card, of this Series though the proof references card #272 on its back.) Derrill Burnham "Del" Pratt (January 10, 1888 – September 30, 1977) was a star running back for the University of Alabama before becoming a professional baseball player. Pratt signed with the St. Louis Browns in 1912. He was a star second baseman in the American League for over a decade, but also saw some action at first base, shortstop, third base and the outfield. Del Pratt was arguably the second-best second baseman of the second decade of the 20th century. And his argumentative nature led The New York Times’ John Kieran to call him “the greatest clubhouse lawyer baseball ever knew.” Pratt had a sparkling rookie season: a .302 batting average with 26 doubles, 15 triples, and a .426 slugging average. He accomplished all this on very weak teams. Only in 1916 did the Browns have a winning record. That was the first full season of another Brownie and former college star, the University of Michigan’s George Sisler. In 1915, the two former college men were roommates on the road. Pratt also showed surprising power in his rookie season with five home runs (a significant number in the Deadball Era), including the first ever in Detroit’s new stadium, Navin Field. A year later, he ended Walter Johnson’s scoreless inning streak at 55⅔, by driving in a run with a single. This is a HAND-MADE ART CARD by HELMAR and very limited (only one made)! This very tough-to-find card is being listed well below its top auction price. If you are unfamiliar with Helmar, please visit their website www.helmarbrewing.com. Charles Mandel-- President of Helmar Brewing Company and the originator of this R319 Helmar Big League and Helmar’s other baseball card series-- is a super guy with a great passion for preserving our favorite past time. The baseball card collecting world cannot say enough about Charles and the Helmar product Charles and his team produces which is why this card series is so popular. Many great players that are in the Hall of Fame (HOF), Negro League, along with other obscure players from the past! From the Helmar Auctions and Website: The Helmar R-319 series was originally 180 cards. And is now approaching 500 cards. The design is based on one of the greatest baseball card sets of all time, the 1933 Goudey set. The 1933 Goudey set has, famously, four Babe Ruths. We have many of the greatest players from Goudey set, and also Babe Didrikson, Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, Martin Dihigo, many other Cuban and Japanese players, and Negro Leaguers. R-319s have a good amount of text on the reverse. When you’re reading the back of a Helmar R-319 we aim to transport you back in time to a moment in the player’s career. Fleetwood Walker and the color barrier coming down. The great Rube Foster’s breakdown. Swede Risberg being banned from baseball. Given the scope, the expense and the complexity for a small company or artist to put together such a big set of original art, no one else may ever attempt to create a set this ambitious. And we’re not done yet. Look for more R-319s! Helmar cards are printed on paper stock consistent with the most treasured card sets of the late 19th century, and early 20th century. Our cards are hand-distressed and treated, to give them a worn, well-loved look and feel, and a fresh, unique scent. We’ve hit a homer if it seems as if you are holding a vintage card in your hands. All the original art is painted by our team. We spend almost as much time creating the backs of the cards as the fronts. For our cards that display player information on the backs, our writers strive to create descriptions that transport you to the time of the player’s career. Everything we do is a time-gobbling labor of baseball-card love. Helmar cards are not available in full sets. We generally offer a few different cards from each series each week. Since each card is handmade, no two look exactly the same. It might be two months, or more, before you see a particular card again. We have vowed not to sell more than six of each card per year. Checklists are available on our website.

Price: 300 USD

Location: Dallas, Texas

End Time: 2025-02-09T22:51:26.000Z

Shipping Cost: 9.5 USD