Gerry Dvorak Sold at Auction Prices

In seven years with Paramount Studios in New York, Dvorak was instrumental in the success of ``Popeye' and ``Casper' cartoons, among others. He was employed as an animator at Hanna-Barbera, where he animated the prime-time TV series ``The Flintstones,' ``Yogi Bear,' ``Superman' and ``Wonder Woman.' He also spent time working on the ``Mr. Magoo' series with U.P.A. While working as an animator, Dvorak also painted the original artwork for many of the 1953 Topps baseball cards. His original of Mickey Mantle was purchased by Marriott at auction for $121,000 in 1992.

Dvorak became a celebrity on the sports collectible circuit and was featured on Mel Allen's ``This Week in Baseball' TV show, as well as in numerous industry publications such as Sports Collectors Digest, Baseball Cards Magazine, Baseball Hobby News and Legends Sports Memorabilia. He was commissioned to paint dozens of portraits of celebrity athletes, many of whom autographed the works. He collaborated with Mickey Mantle, Eric Davis and other baseball players to produce limited-edition lithographs.

Born in Larksville, Pa., he attended public schools in Edwardsville, Pa., before attending Pennsylvania State University on a basketball scholarship. He served in the Navy during World War II.

Following the war he moved to New York and attended the Arts Students' League and Traphagen School of Fashion, where he studied illustration.