NORFOLK, VA.- For nearly four decades, George Sosnak translated his love of baseball into illustrated miniature masterpieces carefully painted between baseball seams. The Chrysler Museum of Art celebrates the self-taught artist’s baseballs in its summer show Having a Ball: George Sosnak’s Striking Portraits from America’s Pastime. The exhibition is on view from July 6 through August 27, 2017 in the Museum’s Waitzer Community Gallery (G. 103). Admission is free.

The exhibition features 45 of Sosnak’s brightly painted baseballs from a local private collection alongside selections of his two-dimensional works, including a poster from the collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Professional Baseball Centennial, 1869–1969 features club and league logos and the artist’s whimsical player portraits. Sosnak donated the remarkably detailed work to the Cooperstown, N.Y. institution in 1973. His work is a uniquely American form of folk art, transcending memorabilia with an illustration style all his own.

“We are so excited to be able to present this fabulous local collection of vibrant folk art that will be fun for all, regardless of whether you’re a baseball fan!” said Susan Leidy, Chrysler Museum Deputy Director and curator of the exhibition.

Painting was a way for Sosnak, a Minor League Baseball umpire, to pass downtime between games. While waiting to officiate a minor league game in Idaho in 1956, he was asked by a female fan if he could paint her favorite player on a baseball. The amateur painter said yes and gave her the baseball as a gift. He went on to paint and give away hundreds more.

In most cases, he began with an autograph and added player images, statistics, Hall of Fame plaques and other scenes in colorful India ink. Soon, he was receiving commissions for his signature painted baseballs, which served as three-dimensional baseball cards depicting the players alongside their stats. He captured everything about the game: from standout players like Roger Maris and Willie Mays to milestone moments to trivia tidbits, such as his baseball documenting a player who was traded for a candy bar.

Experts have concluded Sosnak painted not for artistic fame or glory, but for his love of the game. As an umpire, he never made it to the big leagues, but he officiated spring training games in Lakeland, Fla., for the Detroit Tigers. Their legendary manager Sparky Anderson said of Sosnak, “He did the most wonderful job of hand-painting a baseball. He was the best I ever seen at doing his job. He also did a good job of umpiring.”

Sosnak started roughly 3,000 baseballs and completed 800. Toward the end of his life, he aimed to paint a baseball for every player in the Hall of Fame. Today, Sosnak’s Hall of Fame baseballs are among the most sought-after by collectors

Having a Ball: George Sosnak’s Striking Portraits from America’s Pastime is on public view from July 6 to Aug. 27, 2017. Admission is free.