"James 'Jake' Sanders: Luminescent Legacy" by Gerald Ware

The original signed baseball card — owned by Gerald Ware — will also be available for sale, offering collectors a rare piece of history alongside the artwork.

" About 20 years ago, I met a Negro League Baseball Player while I was in Birmingham who was selling some signed baseball cards. It was an honor to meet him and capture a small piece of history. His family can authenticate the signature if necessary. " Artist: Gerald Ware

This striking acrylic painting pays tribute to Negro League legend James "Jake" Sanders, reimagined through a contemporary artistic lens. Inspired by a vintage baseball card, the piece radiates nostalgia and bold modernity. Framed by a cream-brown border laced with textured golden scratch marks, the composition evokes the aged beauty of collectible memorabilia. Sanders is portrayed in his Birmingham Barons uniform, his figure emerging from a luminous blue backdrop accented by soft yellow and blush-pink auras near the shoulders — suggesting both dawn light and heroic presence. His skin tone features a deep charcoal base enriched with subtle cream highlights, blending naturalistic realism with expressive abstraction. Influences of Fauvism appear in the use of vibrant, emotionally charged colors, while the structured yet fluid form draws from hard-edge techniques. Bold red lettering crowns the top with “Negro League” and “Barons,” while the lower edge carries a handwritten-style note reading, “James ‘Jake’ Sanders, Rickwood Field,” alongside the artist's signature, Gerald Ware, in a warm golden-bronze script. A dynamic blend of history, identity, and visual storytelling, this piece honors Sanders’ legacy through rich contrasts and layered textures.