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Lot # 1: 1947 Jackie Robinson, "Enters the Dodgers Clubhouse" Important Photograph in Montreal Uniform

Starting Bid: $25.00

Bids: 52 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "October Collectors Auction 2019",
which ran from 10/2/2019 9:00 AM to
10/12/2019 8:00 PM



There are moments in sports history that live, and then there are moments that change the world forever. On April 10. 1947 Jackie Robinson was summoned for a photo session at Ebbets Field. Waiting for him were photographers as well as team officials and journalists. A mostly symbolic moment then took place as he was posed in front of the Dodgers club house, opening the door wearing his Montreal jersey, representing the fact that the color line in baseball was officially about to be crossed! Jackie is smiling but the strain of this moment, surrounded by the press and being posed for a good story, would be just the first hurdle he would have to jump through in order to pave the way for countless others after him. The photo is one of only a handful of known images from this moment, with most others being a slightly different version where Jackie has his hands raised, symbolic of victory. This example, issued by Acme and stamped on the back with a full paper caption, is titled on the back, "Open the Door Rickey". The image itself is bold and clean with Acme images usually coming across as a touch darker than other photo services due to the paper and gelatin surface they used in their developing process as this made them a touch more durable for news-room handling. The photo was creased on the right side, likely for publication, and this could be restored at little cost, but the image presents here completely original and untouched, exactly as it sat in a photo archive for the last seventy years. An exciting piece of baseball history that is one of the most important images ever taken of the entire Civil Rights movement and easily one of the top ten baseball photographs ever taken. A similar but slightly different version of this photo just realized $54,000 making this example a fine opportunity to add one of the most important pieces of sports photography to even the most advanced collection for what is sure to be a bargain.

Size: 7x8.5
Designation: Vintage 1
Condition: 1.5/5
Quality: 5/5
Overall Grade: 6.5/10

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