(LOT 518)
1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson "Awaiting Pitch" (1948 Distribution) PSA 5 EX – "POP 4"; Only 3 PSA Examples Graded Higher!
The ultra-popular Bond Bread Jackie Robinson 13-card set was distributed over a three-year period from 1947 – 1949. While all 13 subjects are labeled as "1947" by both PSA and SGC, in reality, the only documented 1947 subject is the Portrait-Facsimile Autograph subject that stands as Jackie's true rookie card. The distribution for the remaining 12 cards via a Homogenized Bond bread loaf were evenly split, with six subjects issued in 1948 (Spring/early Summer) and the remaining six cards released in the late Summer of 1949. Distinguishing the two distribution years (1948 vs. 1949) are the different ad backs, with the versos of the six 1949 subjects revealing a Jackie portrait image not included on the 1948 versions.

Presented here is one of the 1948 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson cards, an outstanding PSA 5 EX "Awaiting Pitch" subject that along with three other specimens, has been bested by only three meager examples! Coming off of his "Rookie of the Year" campaign, Robinson's sophomore season would see the Brooklyn star play a majority of his games at second base, with the fleet-footed legend posting a solid .297 batting average while stealing 22 bases and knocking in 85 runs. His classic black & white batting pose is absolutely breathtaking, revealing near-perfect centering, impeccable contrast and crystal-clear clarity. The final "thumbs up" is the 1948 ad back that includes a Homogenized Bond Bread Loaf image, a facsimile "Jackie Robinson" autograph and the following Jackie promotional quote: "HOMOGENIZED BOND MAKES A HIT WITH ME EVERY TIME." A bona fide 1948 Jackie rookie-era card exhibiting an awe-inspiring batting image, its scarcity level is substantiated by PSA listing only 20 total examples!

MIN BID $1,000
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