Baseball has always been an enduring symbol of American culture, a timeless pastime that connects generations. But what happens when this beloved sport meets the vibrant world of art? Enter “The Diamond King,” a new documentary that beautifully captures the life and work of Dick Perez, a maestro whose brush rendered some of the most iconic baseball imagery in history. This film is now ready to hit the small screen, available for your viewing pleasure on major streaming services including Apple TV, Prime Video, Google TV, and Kinema.
Produced by The McCaw and Votiv, “The Diamond King” takes audiences on a colorful journey through the decades-long career of Dick Perez, the official artist for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The documentary unfolds his life’s story, beginning with his origins in Puerto Rico to the bustling streets of Harlem, where America’s pastime and his innate artistic talent collided in the most serendipitous of ways.
Step into Perez’s world, guided by the lyrical narration of actor John Ortiz, known for his work on “Will Trent” and “Bad Monkey.” Ortiz’s voice serves as the thread weaving together interviews with Perez, his family, fellow artists, and sports figures, creating a tapestry that celebrates not just a man but a movement within American art and sports culture.
For the uninitiated, Dick Perez’s rise to fame took flight in the early 1980s, a phoenix born from a creative collaboration with Donruss, the trading card company. Together they launched the Diamond Kings series, transforming the humble baseball card into a canvas of fine art. These weren’t just cards exchanged by kids at recess—they were delicate portraits that captured the ethos of sports and its heroes. A Perez card wasn’t something you wedged in bicycle spokes; it was a pièce de résistance you’d frame and hang with reverence.
Perez’s artwork is uniquely his own—marrying photorealistic detail with a profound emotional depth. His paintings capture more than just the physical likeness of baseball’s legends; they reveal the humanity of the athletes, melding statistics and symphonies of human will and emotion. Each stroke of his brush pens an ode to baseball’s rich history and its personalities, living or long gone.
The excitement over “The Diamond King” can be summed up by baseball scribe Steve Kopian of Unseen Films. He boldly predicts, “This film is so good that I suspect that it will end up on endless repeat on the MLB channel for years to come.” No pressure there for the MLB channel’s programming department—just the promise of a universal classic in the making.
If you’re still on the fence, wondering if “The Diamond King” might just be worth your time, there’s an enticing trailer available for a sneak peek. And if the art moves you as much as a walk-off home run at the bottom of the ninth, the official website offers options for renting or buying the film. They even sweeten the deal with exclusive prints, posters, and cards from Perez’s storied collection, a veritable treasure trove for collectors and admirers of fine art alike.
“The Diamond King” is the latest passionate project from the creative minds at The McCaw, helmed by visionary director Marq Evans. The team is known for their vivid storytelling, as evidenced by their previous works like “Claydream” (2022), a documentary chronicling the life of Claymation legend Will Vinton, and “The Glamour & The Squalor” (2016), which captures the rise of Seattle radio icon Marco Collins and his role in the grunge revolution.
Whether you find yourself aligned with baseball’s storied past or are simply keen on exploring the magical crossroad where sports meets art, “The Diamond King” is a viewing experience you shouldn’t miss. It’s not just a film about a man; it’s a tribute to a culture that is both timeless and peculiarly, poignantly American.
The bases are loaded, and it’s your chance to hit a grand slam with this cinematic gem. Dick Perez has painted both the players and the field with emotional depth, capturing a baseball world that rises off the canvas and into the heart. Now you, dear viewer, have the chance to witness how the imagery of baseball itself was forever changed by a single artist’s vision, brush, and relentless love for the game.
