An iconic painting of Boston Red Sox players by Norman Rockwell could bring up to $30 million when it goes to auction next month.
“The Rookie,” which shows Boston players dressing in the locker room, appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on March 2, 1957.
The piece will be auctioned off during an American Art sale at Christie’s on May 22 in Rockefeller Center with a pre-sale estimate of $20 million to $30 million.
In the painting, pitcher Frank Sullivan, right fielder Jackie Jensen, catcher Sammy White, second baseman Billy Goodman and Hall of Famer Ted Williams are portrayed.
The fictional rookie is meeting his fellow teammates during spring training in Florida.
Williams was actually not available to pose, so Rockwell used still photos and a model to stand in his place.
A high school student from Pittsfield, Mass., was the stand-in for the rookie.
The painting’s owner, who has remained anonymous, acquired it in 1986 — the year the Red Sox blew the World Series in seven games to the Mets.
An art specialist at the auction house told The Boston Globe that the work is being put up by the owner because the artist’s work has been receiving a lot of attention from collectors.
There’s speculation whether the Red Sox’s current status as World Series champions influenced the owner’s decision to sell the painting.
“That is everyone’s favorite question,” Christie’s art specialist Liz Beaman said, “and it’s always fun to speculate.”
Over the past decade, the American Art department at Christie’s has established more than 100 world records at auction.
Last December, its auction of the Edward Hopper painting “East Wind Over Weehawken” fetched $40.5 million.
With Post Wire Services