October Legends and Americana Ending November 14th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2015
There's a lot of significant teams that made baseball history - but there's only one that forever broke the game's color barrier - the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers. This Official National League ball brings together 21 members of MLB's first integrated team in the 20th century. As befits the role he played that year, Jackie Robinson has signed the ball's sweet spot. Interestingly he shares the spot with the team's nasty boy, Eddie Stanky. The fiery 2nd baseman not only came to respect Robinson but after seeing the disgusting abuse he silently put up with became a vocal supporter of him. Besides the social significance of this team, the '47 Dodgers was the club that bridged Durocher's Dodgers of the early 40's and the 1950's Boy's of Summer. Old hands on the ball include Dixie Walker, the most popular player in the history of the Dodgers until his stance against Robinson became publicly known, Pistol Pete Reiser - said to be the most talented man to play the game - when he was healthy, and Kirby Higbee, the most feared headhunter in the National League. These vets helped train a new crop of Dodgers like Duke Snider and Carl Furillo, both at the beginning of the careers. Also on the ball are Tommy Brown, Eddie Chandler, Eddie Stevens, Bruce Edwards, Vic Lombardi, Joe Hatten, Rex Barney, Stan Rojek, Bobby Bragan, Rube Melton and Harry Taylor. Three of the coaches are also present: Hall of Famer George Sisler plus Jake Pitler and Ray Blades. The ball has been personalized to "(illegible) STRAUB BROOKLYN DODGERS 4-26-47" in black fountain pen. On that date the Dodgers whipped the New York Giants 7-3 at Ebbets Field. The ball has been coated with shellack giving it a warm patina. The signatures main crisp, rating from 4/10 (Robinson and Stanky) to 8/10 for the majority of them. A much sought after team ball from one of the all-time import clubs in baseball history. Letter of Authenticity from JSA.