Could there be a finer homage to Pudge? This 20 x 30 inch masterpiece really must be seen-first for full appreciation—and, fortunately, attendees at the National Convention in Chicago will have the opportunity to do just that at our Goldin booth prior to the Live Auction. Rodriguez himself is the perfect picture of strength and intensity, while verdant field grass recalls Van Goghian hues. The so-called tools of ignorance (quite a misnomer for a backstop of such brilliance) play a prominent role here, as do the Wilson glove and Texas flag logo. "When people ask me for my favorite memories as a player, I always think of my defense first," Rodriguez once wrote in an essay. "Every time I threw out a runner, or picked someone off the base paths, I enjoyed that so much. I’ll almost never talk about my hitting." Well, if you're out there, Pudge, you may want to place a few bids. This beauty belongs on your wall.

Please Note: Dick Perez enjoyed the distinct honor of serving for over two decades as the Official Artist of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Perez's dazzling portraits of every Cooperstown inductee, arranged in year order, are the subject of his 2011 luxury book The Immortals. Dick is currently hard at work on an updated edition—to be released next spring—that will include the HOF Classes of 2011 through 2017. We are excited to announce that this auction's trio of oversized action scenes featuring Raines, Bagwell and Rodriguez represent the only sneak preview of Perez's brand-new pieces prior to publication.

Auction Notepad