(LOT 535)
1949 Bowman #50 Jackie Robinson Bowman Rookie PSA 8.5 NM-MT+
Along with Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle, no player is "hotter" in the card market than the iconic Jackie Robinson who "broke the MLB color barrier" on April 15, 1947. This momentous occurrence arguably stands as the most significant event in our National Pastime's glorious history. Hobby enthusiasts frantically scramble to capture Jackie's finest baseball cards, especially his late 1940s rookie-era issues, with his inaugural 1949 Bowman subject offered here in a sensational PSA 8.5 NM-MT holder. Its rarity at this hallowed level is substantiated by PSA's illustrious population report listing only six other "8.5" examples, with a meager 10 specimens (0.6% of the nearly 1,600 encapsulated PSA copies) graded higher! Starting his MLB career at the late age of 28, Jackie Robinson played only ten seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers before calling it quits after the 1956 campaign, exiting with an outstanding .313 lifetime batting average. In that shortened time-span, he won an MVP, led the Dodgers to six pennants, stole bases, hit for average and power, fielded his position flawlessly and was as fiery a competitor the game has ever seen.

Little did Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson realize that their landmark 1947 signing would forever change America's Pastime with this dynamic duo etched in the minds and hearts of millions of avid baseball enthusiasts. Jackie Robinson's influence on African American baseball players is iconic to say the least, and it is for this reason alone that any early artifact of the great Jackie is highly coveted by the collecting community. Whether it is game-used mementos, tickets, autographs, cards, etc., prices for Robinson's memorabilia have taken off like an ICBM missile, with no end in sight for this exponential-like value escalation. Of course, it is his pre-1950 cards that prompt an unprecedented frenzy throughout the hobby, and along with his inaugural 1947 Bond Bread "Portrait" and 1948/49 Leaf subjects, no issue is more prominent than a high-grade 1949 Bowman keepsake. Robinson's classic portrait pose provides exceptional resolution and contrast, with his bold blue-hued Dodger cap and robust fire-engine red background emanating near-impeccable quality.

Additional attributes supporting the highly-coveted assessment include an extremely well-centered image, with most '49 Bowman's reflecting skewed images. Relatively clean borders (with a trace of mild toning), brilliant surfaces, pinpoint corners, razor-sharp edging and a super eye pleasing verso all combine to provide the final compliments for one of the finest 1949 Bowman Jackie's extant. To reiterate, Robinson's immortal standing stems from the embodiment of courage he displayed when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, breaking baseball's "color-barrier" that had unjustly suppressed a myriad of talented African-American ballplayers for 75+ years. It is no secret that Jackie's 1949 Bowman subject has skyrocketed in value, with several 2021 sales including two PSA 8 examples fetching $73K and $71K, as well as PSA 9 Mint specimen realizing a whopping $522K. These pricing points substantiate the notion that a high-grade example of Robinson's inaugural '49 Bowman subject truly stands as a bona fide testament to his unparalleled legacy, with this breathtaking PSA 8.5 marvel an unequivocal cornerstone of the card collecting circuit!

MIN BID $30,000
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