(LOT 90)
1947 Jackie Robinson PSA Type 1 Original ACME Newspictures 7" x 9" Photo –Taken April 10, 1947 - Montreal Royals vs. Brooklyn Dodgers Exhibition Game & The Day The Dodgers Officially Announced Robinson to be the FIRST MLB Negro Player
This breathtaking April 10, 1947 image of Robinson playing 1st base for the Montreal Royals against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field resides as one of the most significant Jackie Robinson photos on the planet. It was this historic day that the Dodgers iconic General Manager Branch Rickey announced that the Dodgers had purchased the contract of Jackie Robinson to officially break the Major League color barrier, revolutionizing Professional baseball and America forever! From the first day he spoke of Robinson, Rickey made it perfectly clear he was "seeking a black ballplayer with great talent and personal character" and that Jackie was his man. Indeed, after announcing Jackie Robinson would join the Dodgers for opening day on April 15, 1947 as their starting first baseman, Jackie had worn his Montreal Royal uniform for the final time against Brooklyn on this historic April 10, 1947 exhibition game.

In fact, the following day (April 11, 1947), Robinson would trade in his Royal's uniform for Brooklyn Blue, starting at first base in another exhibition game played against the New York Yankees (Memory Lane actually sold an April 11, 1947 Robinson photo in a 2017 auction). No one would argue that one of our National Pastime's most iconic moments ever was when the immortal Jackie Robinson broke the Major League's color barrier in 1947, courtesy of the unbridled courage portrayed by both Robinson and Branch Rickey. That monumental occurrence changed not only baseball, but all of professional sports forever. It is with no surprise that Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson's collectibles continue to skyrocket every day, especially in lieu of the historic "42" box office smash that opened the floodgates to an already lucrative Jackie Robinson collectibles market.

This awe-inspiring 7" x 9" black & white image depicts the great Robinson donning his Montreal Royals uniform for the final time as he stretches to snare a thrown baseball towards first base. The central image portrays the finest possible clarity and contrast, with some modest chipping along the lower left border, a slight tear along the upper right border and some diminutive staining affixed to the upper right quadrant. The verso reveals the significant caption and ACME Newspictures stamp, with the caption clearly reading: "DODGER SNARES BALL – AND DODGER CONTRACT – BROOKLYN, N.Y. – JACKIE ROBINSON, NEGRO SECOND-SACKER PUTS IN A STINT AT FIRST BASE WITH MONTREAL AND STRETCHES FOR A TEAM-MATES TOSS DURING MONTREAL-DODGERS GAME AT EBBET'S FIELD HERE APRIL 10TH. ROBINSON TODAY TRADED THE MONTREAL UNIFORM HE IS SHOWN WEARING ABOVE FOR DODGER OUTFIT AS THE BROOKS TOOK UP HIS OPTION, MAKING HIM FIRST NEGRO BALL PLAYER IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES. – 4/11/47". This historic caption truly captures the moment for on a go-forward basis, the immortal Jackie Robinson would wear a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform thru the remainder of his legendary professional career. Designated as an Original Type I photo by PSA (Full LOA included), it depicts superb aesthetics and stands as a momentous illustration as well as a sheer testament to Jackie Robinson's embodiment of courage that will surely echo for eternity! - Full PSA Type I LOA

MIN BID $500
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