Buck O'Neil gets the news about Jackie Robinson

Here's the Chapter 4 illustration for the Notable Missourian book on Buck O'Neil.

While Buck was serving in the Pacific he got the news about Jackie Robinson getting signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Black players finally being "welcomed" into the major leagues was a big deal; it also meant the inevitable death of the Negro League which had become a celebrated contributor to black culture.  Still, Buck and most of the country was thrilled.  Finally, the best could play with the best.

This illustration is for the Notable Missourian book on Buck O'Neil, published by Truman State University Press.

Final Art

Rough sketch

Monster Catch

Here's a fun rough from a project I'm working on.

Stan the Man Musial

Before working on these Notable Missourian story illustrations for Truman State University Press, I honestly had no idea who Stan Musial was.  So I was surprised when I'd mention this project to people and if they had so much as an inkling of Cardinals fandom they would indignantly declare that Stan was not a Notable Missourian, he was a Famous Missourian.

So How did this amazing baseball player who grew up in poor coal mining country in Pennsylvania to Polish parents become one of the best known names in baseball in the 40s, 50s and 60s?  If you mentioned "Stan the Man" during that time, everybody knew exactly who you were talking about.  So why don't folks remember him now with the other baseball greats?

Young Stan and other AAA baseball players trying to keep up with a tight game schedule.

Stan in the 1942 World Series

Stan always made time to sign autographs

After reading this story and watching some videos I honestly think its because he was simply a nice guy!  He wasn't a tortured soul, he wasn't an ass, he wasn't a drunk or a womanizer.  Basically he didn't have that juicy backstory that makes for great movies.  He married his high school sweetheart, he went to church, he was warm and welcoming when the league started to integrate and many players were...well.. not warm and welcoming.  He even befriended a young cardinal in Poland who just happened to end up becoming Pope John Paul the II. Their friendship was a close, casual one that lasted their lifetimes.  I mean think about that.  The guy was a buddy with the pope.  Nice guy!

So anyways, Learning about Stan Musial was refreshing.  His legacy stands on his excellence in his profession and his being a nice guy.  It may not linger like the legacy of more dramatic and controversial figures in sports, but I don't think he would want it any other way.  Hell I don't know why any of us would?

While retired, Stan and his wife spent a lot of time doing charitable work in Poland...and introducing them to baseball.

Pride in the Home Team

When I think baseball, I think cheap seats but a great time!  The seats here don't look terrible, but while painting it I was thinking of the angle I'm most used to seeing at Kauffman Stadium while watching a Royals game.  The view from around section 403.  High up and left field.  Still for some reason its one of my favorite places to sit.  All that said this is not necessarily the Royals or Kauffman.  Cough.  We contacted the Royals about what we were allowed to do without having to pay royalties.  They said we could use the colors, but we had to make the ball park indistinct (couldn't show the big crown or fountains) and we couldn't show the Royals logo anywhere.  That may sound harsh to some but in reality that was very generous of them and awesome news!  I do wonder if the numbers are pushing it.  We are passing this back by them to get approval so the numbers may go away and this post may be different soon.  I do like how the numbers together are 85.  That was not intended at all but is a happy accident as the late great Bob Ross would say.

Rooting for the home team - Rough sketch examples

Here's a couple more illustrations for this Kansas City project. If there's one thing KC has in spades, its passion for our teams.  I shouldn't phrase it like that.  There's certainly more than one thing we have. Did I ever mention we have Tacos In A Tub? Tacos. In a tub. That's right. SO let me start over.  

PROMINENT in the long list of awesome things about Kansas City (including tubs full of tacos) is our passion for our sports teams. We have some of the best fans in the country - be it football, baseball, soccer, or college basketball - people here can't get enough. And they're good fans too. Go to a Chiefs game wearing a Raiders jersey and you'll still get offered brats, beer and ribs in the parking lot.  Then again if you're a Raiders fan you might want to keep an eye on that Brat during its journey from the grill to your hand.  Just saying I can't speak for everyone.

The point of this sketch was to put the emphasis on the excitement and experience of the crowd more so then the teams.  I love our major teams, but I swear you could go to a chess tournament or a curling match in this town and still find people tailgating in the parking lot and lovingly yelling expletives inside.  Its an awesome place to be a fan and we're always ready to root for the home team.