Jackie Robinson Jersey Closes December 21
A very rare game-worn jersey belonging to Jackie Robinson, the man who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947, is being offered in Lelands.com’s Fall Catalog Auction, currently underway until December 21, 2012.
The all-original 1950 home jersey is one of only a few of Robinson’s known to exist and is available publicly for the first time ever.
“Jackie Robinson was more than a baseball player. Like Abraham Lincoln, he is an iconic figure in America’s civil rights history,” said Joshua Evans, chairman, Lelands.com. “When Jackie joined the Dodgers, the game went from black and white to color. You could say the same about the sports auction market when a fresh Jackie Robinson jersey comes to auction.”
According to Evan, only two players have transcended from the game of baseball into popular American culture: Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. As the first African-America player in major league baseball, Robinson and his family were subjected to criticism and even death threats. But Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey persisted, knowing he needed a man of impeccable character and athleticism to carry the torch for minority players.
Robinson, a highly articulate and intelligent four-sport athlete at UCLA and high level player in the Negro Leagues, persevered, keeping his temper in check and carving out a 10 year Hall of Fame career. Several small stains (possibly blood), vintage team repairs and a small hole (possibly a spike mark) add to the character of the jersey, which has “Dodgers” in blue felt on the front and the legendary retired number “42” in the same blue felt on the back. “J Robinson 50” is stitched on the front tail of the A.G Spalding, with is tagged size 42 and “Dry Clean Only.”
Other notable baseball items in the auction are a Roy Campanella home game-worn jersey; a number of items from Don Newcombe (another player who helped jump start the Dodgers during that era) including his 1949 Rookie of the Year award, 1956 Most Valuable Player and 1956 Cy Young award.
“These three players were not only long-time teammates but also pioneers in moving baseball’s integration progress forward,” said Evans. “It was their shining example that opened the door for all minority players in all major sports.”
To view images of the jersey, visit the Lelands site. To learn more about Lelands.com or view other items in the Fall Catalog Auction, visit www.Lelands.com. To speak directly with Joshua Evans, contact Suzan French, FlackShack, (917) 284-8523, sfrench@flackshack.com, or Paula Beck, FlackShack, (484) 695-1706, pbeck@flackshack.com.
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Jackie Robinson Jersey Closes December 21
A very rare game-worn jersey belonging to Jackie Robinson, the man who broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947, is being offered in Lelands.com’s Fall Catalog Auction, currently underway until December 21, 2012.
The all-original 1950 home jersey is one of only a few of Robinson’s known to exist and is available publicly for the first time ever.
“Jackie Robinson was more than a baseball player. Like Abraham Lincoln, he is an iconic figure in America’s civil rights history,” said Joshua Evans, chairman, Lelands.com. “When Jackie joined the Dodgers, the game went from black and white to color. You could say the same about the sports auction market when a fresh Jackie Robinson jersey comes to auction.”
According to Evan, only two players have transcended from the game of baseball into popular American culture: Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson. As the first African-America player in major league baseball, Robinson and his family were subjected to criticism and even death threats. But Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey persisted, knowing he needed a man of impeccable character and athleticism to carry the torch for minority players.
Robinson, a highly articulate and intelligent four-sport athlete at UCLA and high level player in the Negro Leagues, persevered, keeping his temper in check and carving out a 10 year Hall of Fame career. Several small stains (possibly blood), vintage team repairs and a small hole (possibly a spike mark) add to the character of the jersey, which has “Dodgers” in blue felt on the front and the legendary retired number “42” in the same blue felt on the back. “J Robinson 50” is stitched on the front tail of the A.G Spalding, with is tagged size 42 and “Dry Clean Only.”
Other notable baseball items in the auction are a Roy Campanella home game-worn jersey; a number of items from Don Newcombe (another player who helped jump start the Dodgers during that era) including his 1949 Rookie of the Year award, 1956 Most Valuable Player and 1956 Cy Young award.
“These three players were not only long-time teammates but also pioneers in moving baseball’s integration progress forward,” said Evans. “It was their shining example that opened the door for all minority players in all major sports.”
To view images of the jersey, visit the Lelands site. To learn more about Lelands.com or view other items in the Fall Catalog Auction, visit www.Lelands.com. To speak directly with Joshua Evans, contact Suzan French, FlackShack, (917) 284-8523, sfrench@flackshack.com, or Paula Beck, FlackShack, (484) 695-1706, pbeck@flackshack.com.
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