The art of baseball: Dick Perez, Marq Evans, and The Diamond King

For over 20 years, Dick Perez was the official artist of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, painting the game’s history and every Hall of Fame ballplayer—a project he continues into his 80s. Marq Evans (Claydream, The Glamour & The Squalor) directed The Diamond King, a documentary that tells the fascinating story of Perez, the “Picasso of Baseball,” whose portraits transformed the commemoration of America’s most iconic pastime.

In this episode, Evans talks with Washington State Magazine editor Larry Clark about Perez’s life, making the documentary, baseball, and art.

Find out more

The Diamond King official website

Trailer for The Diamond King

Dick Perez’s website

“Collecting the Diamond Kings” (Summer 2025, Washington State Magazine)

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