Color line and civil rights pioneer Jackie Robinson appears in this familiar image shot by official Brooklyn Dodgers photographer, Barney Stein. This stunning visage of a smiling Robinson served as the source material for Jackie's highly sought after and instantly recognizable 1953 Topps #1 card, one of the key Hall of Famers present in the iconic 1953 Topps set. Jackie is sporting the National League's 75th Anniversary patch on his left sleeve, conclusively dating the image to either the 1951 regular season or the Dodgers 1952 spring training camp at Vero Beach, FL. Developed directly from the original negative, the photo features exceptional clarity and remains bright and clean throughout with only faint toning to the edges of the verso. Offered here for the first time, this example has remained in the personal collection of former Brooklyn Dodgers outfielder and pinch-hitter, George "Shotgun" Shuba until the time of this sale. Shuba, one of sportswriter Roger Kahn's "Boys of Summer," is fondly remembered today as the first man to publicly congratulate Jackie Robinson in solidarity during his 1946 debut in organized baseball with the Montreal Royals. An important 8" x 10" baseball card image with direct connection to one of Jackie Robinson's teammates in both the minor and major leagues. Authenticated and encapsulated as a Type I photo by PSA/DNA.

Size: medium
Condition: yes