Graig Kreindler is one of the best-known and most widely-respected names in sports art. Raised in Rockland County, NY, Kreindler is a graduate of New York City's School of Visual Arts with a BFA in illustration and a Masters in Art Education from Lehman College in the Bronx. His work has been featured in juried art shows and museums nationwide, with pieces displayed at numerous public art spaces and featured in nationally-distributed books, newspapers, magazines and television. His artwork has been featured on Topps baseball cards, is in the permanent collection of the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, and more than 200 of his works were commissioned and displayed as part of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's "Black Baseball in Living Color" art exhibit. Kreindler's work has drawn raves, none more glowing that of hip hop pioneer Chuck D of Public Enemy, who recently wrote "He exhibits timelessness with the allure to connect generations, preserving the nostalgic charm of vintage baseball for years to come. Graig's commitment to legacy is a legacy of its own, making him the greatest painter of vintage baseball imagery."
We have been friends with Graig for many years, and have been honored to offer several of his works for auction. Our sale of "Proud as a Peacock" (featuring Roberto Clemente) raised nearly $60,000 for charity in 2022, and "Hard Luck For Hardy" (featuring Mike Trout) sold for $36,000 in the summer of that same year. With nearly 120,000 followers on social media, daily posts produce raves from fans, hobbyists, connoisseurs of art and celebrities alike. Demand for his work is unprecedented; after developing a decade-long waiting list, Graig has recently closed the door for private commissions. Graig's popularity and demand for his work, however, continue to surge.
It is a privilege to present to you "McGraw's Pitching Machine," a brand-new piece, completed in 2024. Graig's most recently-finished composition, the massive painting is based on a 1907 Francis P. Burke photograph taken as Matty warmed up before a game at Chicago's West Side Grounds. The image is a familiar one to hobbyists; in addition to being frequently reproduced, it was featured on Mathewson's PC796 Sepia Postcard and his 1909 PC758 Max Stein Postcard issues. With his partner Henry A. Atwell, the Burke & Atwell commercial photo studio billed itself as "Theatrical, Newspaper and Magazine photographers." Many of Burke's images were used to create the Cracker Jack cards of 1914 and 1915.
Through his own lens, Graig has brought the Mathewson photo to life, capturing the blues and grays of what appears to be a chilly Chicago afternoon. Matty stares intently at his catching partner, loosening up his magic arm and getting his game face on. Graig's skill with color and light is fully on display here, the overcast day allowing only the faint hints of barely perceptible shadow in the dirt behind him. An absolute masterwork in every way, the painting is enormous, an oil-on-linen piece measuring 30" x 40", sure to command attention in whichever space it appears.
Perhaps the best illustrator of Kreindler's popularity is not the considerable publicity or adulation he receives, but the very small number of his works that have made their way into the hobby via resale. The majority of Kreindler's work is commissioned privately by his clients, and once the work is finished, the owner generally keeps it. Since Kreindler has only made prints of his work available for sale on rare occasion, the only way to own a Kreindler is to own an original piece. Recently, due to intense demand and a lengthy wait list, Graig has placed a moratorium on commissioned work, meaning he is no longer accepting private commissions for the time being. This means that any collector hoping to own a creation of Kreindler's essentially has one chance: win one of his works at auction. Here is your opportunity to own his latest, and one of his finest.