The Rookie (Chicago Cubs)
Painting on canvas in a wooden frame, landscape format • Norman Rockwell
Style & Movement
American Realism, Illustration Art
Medium & Technique
Oil painting with detailed illustrative technique, precise linework, and layered application
Creation Period
Mid-20th Century, 1957
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 26 x 35 inches, landscape orientation
Subject Description
Depicts Chicago Cubs baseball players in a dugout, featuring a young rookie standing prominently in uniform while teammates and fans look on, capturing American baseball culture and narrative realism
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good; clean surface with stable paint layers, minor frame abrasion at edges
Estimated Market Value
Multi-million dollar range given the artist and iconic status
Auction Estimate
15,000,000 to 20,000,000 USD
Provenance History
Passed through major collections and exhibitions, originally created for The Saturday Evening Post publication
Art Historical Significance
A celebrated work by Norman Rockwell, immensely influential in American illustration and cultural history, capturing mid-century sports fandom and adolescent aspiration
Notable Features
Features the distinctive Chicago Cubs uniforms, expressive character studies of players and spectators, and the artist signature in the lower right
Condition Issues
Normal aging consistent with mid-century oil paintings, possible minor craquelure
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain stable climate-controlled environment, UV-protective glass or acrylic, and gentle dusting of the wooden frame