THE DIAMOND KING
Available screening types
Virtual
On-demand
In-person
Available until
Jan 31, 2027
Speakers Available
Available in
Canada, United States of America, United Kingdom
About the film
THE DIAMOND KING offers an intimate portrait of Dick Perez, the longtime official artist of The National Baseball Hall of Fame and creator of the iconic Diamond Kings baseball card series. Director Marq Evans crafts more than just an artist biography—the documentary weaves together baseball history, memorabilia culture, and the immigrant experience through Perez's remarkable journey. With John Ortiz's engaging on-screen narration written by Joe Posnanski, the film celebrates how Perez's vibrant artwork has brought baseball legends to life for generations of fans, connecting classical art traditions with America's pastime. A must-see for anyone who appreciates baseball, art, or the cultural threads that bind them together.
Genre
Documentary
Runtime
1h 29m
Released
2025
Director
Marq Evans
Producer
Marq Evans, Brent Stiefel, Michelle Quisenberry
Executive Producer
Billy Crafton, Thomas Ruggie
Writer
Joe Posnanski
Crew
Jason Roark, Dalan McNabola, Andrew Joslyn, Marky Yakima
Cast
Dick Perez, John Ortiz, Bob Kendrick, John Thorn, Peggy Steele, Mary Lou Perez
Awards & recognition
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Best of Fest
What people are saying
‘The Diamond King is a beautifully made documentary and celebration of the life and career of former Baseball Hall of Fame artist Dick Perez. Perez is no longer the official artist for the Hall of Fame, a position he held for 25 years. He continued painting new Hall of Fame members afterwards. If you’ve ever bought a Perez-Steele postcard, you are familiar with his work. Tom Hanks once said that there is no crying in baseball. I’m sorry to disappoint the iconic actor but if you’re anything like me, you’re probably going to be crying by the end of this film. Maybe it’s something about baseball being such a romantic sport? Or maybe it’s just beautiful editing in how they frame the narrative in The Diamond King. The Diamond King is an appreciation of Dick Perez in as much as it is the game of baseball itself.‘
Danielle Solzman
‘Buckle in boys and girls this is a far-reaching film. Nominally this is the story of Perez and his life and art, but at the same time the film is also several other things. It’s a look at the game of baseball over the years, it’s a look at memorabilia collecting (Perez’s art is on sport cards) and collectors, it’s a look at the immigrant experience (Perez came to America as a child and he became a fan of the game because it was a way of connecting to the kids around him) and it's a look at the history of art and how it influences how we see the world. And since this is a Marq Evans film there is even more going on. This film is so good that I suspect that this will end up on endless repeat on the MLB channel for years to come. What an absolute delight.‘
Steve Kopian
‘The film is a combination of an exploration into Perez's life and a love letter to the sport of baseball with Perez's artwork as the unifying element. But this isn't simply a film about baseball cards. It's about Perez's life as an immigrant from Puerto Rico and his familial relationships and his artistry and, of course, America's pastime is woven throughout. A talented artist with a keen eye for the shadows and movement and lore of the sport of baseball, Perez made a living melding his two great loves. He is the official artist of the Philadelphia Phillies and was the official artist for the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown for more than 20 years.‘
Shad Powers