During the last several years there has been enormous interest in collecting unique sports artifacts and memorabilia. This has been especially true for collectibles representing or commemorating African-American athletes. For this column, we will share our insights on one of the most popular African-American athletes of all time . . . Jackie Robinson.

        Jack Roosevelt Robinson, born in 1919, grew up in Pasadena, California and from a young age was an extraordinary athlete. While attending UCLA he starred in four different sports; track and field, basketball, football and baseball. Not only did Jackie break the Pacific Coast Conference record in the broad jump, but he was the school basketball team’s leading scorer and, on the gridiron, led the nation in yards per carry for the UCLA football team. Also, of course, Jackie was a baseball player who, unfortunately after graduation, faced what thousands of African-Americans confronted during the first half of the 20th century . . . the Major League color barrier.

        After serving in the military, Robinson joined the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro League. He was ready to give up his $100 a week stint with the Monarchs and settle down with his family, but fate had other plans for this young ambitious renaissance man. For when he was approached by Branch Rickey, owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, his life and the game of baseball, the game reverently called the National Pastime, would change forever. Rickey would offer Robinson the chance to play at the Major League level, a position an African-American had not had for the previous five or six decades. Robinson agreed to Rickey’s grand plan, obliterated the color barrier and thereafter become a hero to millions of people. He went on to have a sterling Major League career and, although he played just ten years, Jackie helped Rickey’s Brooklyn Dodgers make six World Series appearances. Mr. Robinson was enshrined in Baseball’s Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility.

        Today, Robinson is recognized not only for his great baseball career but also for the pioneering mark he made on civil rights. Naturally, vintage sports memorabilia related to Robinson is highly collectible. There are literally hundreds of different items and collectibles that commemorate Robinson and that relate to his life and career on the baseball diamond. For example, Jackie appeared on many different baseball cards through the years, from the regional Bond Bread issue to the familiar Topps cards.

        He also adorned the cover of countless magazines and other periodicals and was commemorated on everything from watch fobs and drinking glasses to stadium pins and other giveaways. Each of these items has become collectible and vary in value. Additionally, artifacts that are very significant and rare are those vintage items that were either owned or used by the man himself. Examples include game worn uniforms, equipment or personal effects such as awards and trophies. Also, autographed photos, programs and books are highly prized.

        If you have a national treasure that you would like to share, feel free to contact Frank Ceresi or Carol McMains or write to them at FC Associates, 1703 Belle View Boulevard, Suite B-1, Alexandria, Virginia 22307.

IMAGES USED (TOP TO BOTTOM)

Image # 13318

Early image of Robinson on a stadium pin. This pin was a stadium giveaway from Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn from the early 1950’s.

Image # Robinson Sport Mag

1956 Jackie Robinson signed photograph from Sport Magazine. This classic signed magazine photo shows a happy Jackie Robinson, now a member of the “major league fraternity,” surrounded his teammates from the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Image # C13561

Inscribed Biography from Robinson to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This extraordinarily rare and unique artifact is especially significant because it merges Robinson’s career as a baseball pioneer with the civil rights movement. The 1964 inscribed biography was personally given by Jackie Robinson to Martin Luther King, Jr. The heartfelt message reads:

“To Dr. Martin Luther King with deepest of admiration. Your dedication and sincerity has been an inspiration to millions of Americans. You have added to the lives of most of us and we appreciate it so very much. May God continue to guide and bless you and may your devotion to the principles under which this country was founded. I hope you enjoy Baseball Has Done It. You inspired much of it. Sincerely, Jackie Robinson.”