This story was excerpted from John Denton’s Cardinals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. CINCINNATI -- As a speedy shortstop who once stole 84 bases in a Minor League season and reached the Majors at age 24, Micah...
Where baseball meets art.
- Negro Leagues legends honored with baseball cards for MLB at Rickwood Field game
KANSAS CITY -- Former big leaguer and current artist Micah Johnson was tasked with the impossible -- and he stayed awake for over 26 hours at a time on numerous occasions to accomplish it. His task? Honoring the great Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson, Josh Gibson, Larry Doby, Monte Irvin and...
- Hershiser purchases 'Grace' painting featuring Jackie, other icons
A famed piece of art depicting Jackie Robinson has a new and familiar owner for Jackie Robinson Day, but the painting is staying put in the Negro Leagues Museum in Kansas City. Dodgers great Orel Hershiser, the 1988 NL Cy Young winner and a current broadcaster for the team, has...
- Great Britain baseball artist Andy Brown has seen the baseball world with paintbrush in hand
He has a uniform and travels with Great Britain Baseball. But the man with the trimmed salt-and-pepper beard is not a coach nor a trainer. You won’t find him on the field or in the dugout, either. Instead, you’ll find him in the stands, paintbrush in hand, perched thoughtfully over...
- This former screwballer has found his second act
There was never a second of doubt in his mind: Daniel Herrera was going to be a Major Leaguer. He may have stood only 5-foot-6, his fastball may not have scraped 90 mph and he may have been a 45th-round selection who negotiated for a $20,000 bonus, but Herrera didn’t...
- Monsters' ball: Topps artist is scary good
When Topps initially got in touch with artist Alex Pardee about working on Project70, a reimagining of the brand’s classic baseball sets over the past 70 years, his gut reaction was: Not a chance. “I’m not going to be able to do this,” he thought to himself. “Have they even...
- 10 amazing portraits of great Black stars
Last month, to celebrate Black History Month, MLB reached out to 10 prominent Black artists and made a simple request: Could you create a piece of art celebrating one of the game's greatest Black players? The style was up to the artist -- however they felt could best capture the...
- The former MLBer inspiring Black kids through art
“Mom, can astronauts be Black?” That’s the heartbreaking question that has fueled former big leaguer Micah Johnson’s recent artistic work. The former second baseman and outfielder for the White Sox, Dodgers, Braves and Rays has done plenty of dreaming in his life. He was a big league baseball player and...
- Blooper went all Bob Ross and painted during a game
Mascots are there to enthrall and amuse the crowd with their harmless pranks and energetic antics. But what are they to do when there is no one in attendance other than cardboard cutouts? Some get all introspective and sit alone in the park:...
- Every night, Topps artist streams his dream
NEW YORK -- If you want to know how much working on Topps’ groundbreaking 2020 Project means to artist Blake Jamieson, just listen to him talk about his Mark McGwire card. Or, better yet, watch him. Like clockwork, Jamieson streams live on YouTube every night at 10:23 ET, but he...
- This fan is visiting every ballpark this season ... and painting them from his seat
It's not uncommon for a fan to set out with the goal of visiting all 30 ballparks in the league. Each has its own character and vibe, plus it's a great reason to get to see many of the best cities the United States and Canada have to offer. Heck,