This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/9/2015
Arguably the most important baseball team in the Major League Baseball history is memorialized here, a club that earns that distinction for the introduction of the first African-American player in Big League history. The brave racial pioneer, Jackie Robinson’s rookie signature appears on the side panel on this ONL (Frick) baseball along with 24 other members of that historic team. Signed in blue ballpoint, this Official National League 1947 team signed Brooklyn Dodgers baseball is the nicest in the hobby we have seen to date. With the ball pinpointed to 1946, this ball was most likely signed at the beginning of the 1947 season, making this one of the earliest known signed Robinson/Snider baseballs in existence! With 24 signatures, no club-house/removals or shellack, this is a gem for any baseball collector. Key signatures include: Jackie Robinson (Rookie), Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider (Rookie), Carl Furillo, Hugh Casey, Pete Reiser, Dixie Walker, Jake Pitler, Burt Shotton, Hai Gregg, and maybe most importantly (other than Robinson) the man that signed Jackie Robinson, Clyde Sukeforth. It is important to note that Sukeforth is an uncommon signature on team signed 47 baseballs. He would go to manage Robinson’s first two professional games as Leo Durocher was suspended, with Shotton taking over after that. Given that there is no typical signature on the sweet-spot, the ball dated to 1946, & Sukeforth’s signature on the ball, it’s possible this ball reigns from those early games for the Dodgers where their wasn't a stable manager to speak of & no one at the time willing to grace the hallowed sweet-spot for that reason. A true piece of baseball history. Full letter of authenticity from James Spence Authentication (JSA).