April 14, 2022 

ONE OF ONE PAINTING OF ICONIC BASEBALL CARD A NOD TO JACKIE ROBINSON 75^TH ANNIVERSARY

 Renowned artist James Fiorentino unveils 22 x 30 watercolor of 1952 Topps Card

Flemington, NJ (April 14, 2022) – In light of the 75^th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in major league baseball, New Jersey watercolor artist and illustrator James Fiorentino, debuted his newest addition to the project, “There is Only One”, in which he paints 1/1 replicas of the most iconic trading cards in the world.

“The 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson is one of the most iconic cards there is and, in my opinion, the most visually appealing,” said Fiorentino, long considered one of the most elite sports artists in the world.

“The red background on this card brings Jackie to life, visually projecting him off the 22 x 30 painting with the light blue Brooklyn cap accentuating that special look,” said Fiorentino. “For me personally as an artist, it has been an honor to have painted this piece in the weeks leading up to Jackie’s 75th Anniversary of playing his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers.”

The elite sports art collection “There is Only One, the Most Iconic Trading Cards of All Time” was conceptualized by Fiorentino and East Coast Sports Marketing’s Joe Drelich during the recent surge in the sports trading card market.

“The work you see in this collection represents James’ amazing talent, and illustrates how one small idea can quickly grow into an amazing display of some of the most iconic and valuable trading card Artwork ever painted,” said Drelich, who also owns The Philly Show, where the exhibition first debuted September 24, 2021.

“The air of suspense as fans wait to see the originals in person is what make this project both special and exciting to work on. Being able to view the re-creation of iconic sports masterpieces in person at 22 x 30, and in watercolor, is what make this traveling exhibition and sale so unique,” Fiorentino told MLB Network during an interview last year.  

 Fiorentino’s work, including pieces from the “There Is Only One” collection will be on display at The National Sports Collectors Convention (“The National”) in July 2022 and at other private exhibitions.

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About James Fiorentino

James Fiorentino (b.1977) is an American watercolor artist and illustrator who currently makes his home in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. A master in watercolor, Fiorentino’s artwork has hung in galleries and museums across North America and Europe as well as in private collections worldwide.

His professional career taking off while still in high school, Fiorentino became the youngest artist ever featured in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum for his likeness of Reggie Jackson. In 1998, while still a student at Drew University (where he was the starting shortstop for the baseball team all four years of college), Fiorentino earned the designation of being the youngest artist to be inducted into the prestigious New York Society of Illustrators, where he joined the ranks of American icons Norman Rockwell and Andrew Wyeth.

Fiorentino, often at the athlete’s request, has painted numerous sports legends including Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Cal Ripken Jr., Arnold Palmer, Muhammad Ali, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Julius Erving, and Tiger Woods. Topps, Upper Deck, and Kelloggs Sports Cards have all featured Fiorentino’s artwork, and Fiorentino has launched his own line of iconic sports card artwork titled “There Is Only One.”