Baseball fans and art aficionados have something new to cheer about. The McCaw and Votiv have dropped their latest film, The Diamond King, available to rent or buy on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google TV, and Kinema.
This documentary dives into the life and work of Dick Perez, the Baseball Hall of Fame’s official artist for over two decades. If you’ve ever marveled at the portraits lining Cooperstown’s halls, chances are you’ve seen Perez’s handiwork. The Diamond King traces his journey from a kid in Puerto Rico, moving to Harlem, to becoming a celebrated name in both the art world and baseball circles.
Narrated by actor John Ortiz (known for roles in Will Trent and Bad Monkey), the film explores how Perez’s passion for the game and his eye for detail combined to create thousands of unforgettable portraits. Interviews with Perez, his family, fellow artists, and more bring his story to life — a story where every brushstroke tells a piece of baseball’s grand narrative.
Perez’s big break came in the 1980s when he teamed up with Donruss to launch the Diamond Kings series. These cards weren’t just collectibles; they were mini masterpieces that revolutionized sports cards and gave fans a whole new way to connect with their favorite players. Since then, Perez’s art has appeared everywhere from private collections to major exhibitions worldwide.
His unique style blends realism with an emotional spark, capturing not just the player’s face but the grit, grace, and spirit of the game itself. It’s no wonder his work resonates so deeply with fans, giving them a front-row seat to baseball history with every portrait.
If you’re curious to learn more, check out John Ortiz’s chat about the film on the MLB Network Podcast. And if you’re still on the fence, film critic Steve Kopian at Unseen Films called The Diamond King “so good that I suspect that it will end up on endless repeat on the MLB channel for years to come. What an absolute delight.”
To catch a sneak peek, watch The Diamond King trailer. And for the full experience, head over to The Diamond King Movie website where you can watch the film, order exclusive prints, posters, cards, and more from Dick Perez himself.
The Diamond King is the third feature-length documentary from The McCaw studio, helmed by director Marq Evans. Their previous films include Claydream (2022), which tells the story of Claymation legend Will Vinton — the creative force behind the California Raisins, the M&M’s Red & Yellow, and that mischievous Domino’s Pizza ‘Noid’ — and The Glamour & The Squalor (2016), which chronicled the rollercoaster life of rock DJ Marco Collins, the man who helped launch Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Beck into the stratosphere.
So grab some popcorn, settle in, and take a swing at baseball history with The Diamond King.