(LOT 149)
1949 Bowman #50 Jackie Robinson PSA 8 NM-MT
JACKIE ROOKIE-ERA BOWMAN!!! The momentous rise of Jackie Robinson's collectibles has taken the hobby by storm, with this unprecedented icon's early cardboard issues achieving record-breaking prices seemingly each and every day. With his unparalleled importance of breaking the MLB color barrier on April 15, 1947, Jackie instantly changed not only baseball but America forever. Arguably standing as the most significant event in our national pastime's glorious history, it has prompted hobbyists to frantically pursue Jackie's finest baseball cards, including his cherished late 1940s rookie-era issues. That said, his inaugural 1949 Bowman #50 subject is presented here in a spectacular PSA 8 NM-MT holder, with only a fractional 1.1% of the 1,700+ PSA encapsulated examples 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 timespan, 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. Jackie Robinson's influence on African American baseball players is iconic, to say the least, and it's for this reason alone that early artifacts of the great Jackie are 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 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 and '49 Leaf subjects, no issue is more prominent than a high-grade 1949 Bowman keepsake.

Robinson's classic portrait pose portrays vivid clarity and contrast, with his bold blue-hued Dodger cap and robust fire-engine red background emanating immaculate quality. The relatively well-centered image modestly favors the right edge between four off-white borders, and no obtrusive surface flaws are evident. For full disclosure, the right edge reflects a rough factory cut, yet the pack-fresh surfaces, pinpoint corners, razor-sharp edging, and a super-eye-pleasing verso all combine to strongly support the illustrious PSA 8 assessment. It's no secret that Jackie's 1949 Bowman subject has skyrocketed in value, with several 2021 PSA 8 sales realizing $73K and $71K, as well as a PSA 9 MINT specimen fetching a staggering $522K. These pricing points substantiate the notion that a high-grade 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson subject stands as a testament to his unparalleled legacy that will truly echo for eternity!

MIN BID $10,000
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