Rare Jackie Robinson photo, autographed vintage cards highlight SCP Spring Auction

Before he made his historic Major League Baseball debut on April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson played one season of minor league ball for the Montreal Royals, the Triple-A affiliate of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Robinson wasted no time proving he belonged in the major leagues, batting .349 with 40 stolen bases, 113 runs scored and 66 RBI in 124 games with the Royals. 

An original Type 1 photograph from Robinson’s first day with the Royals on March 4, 1946 highlights the Spring Premier Auction at SCP Auctions. Also up for bid is an April 10, 1947 photo from the day Robinson signed his contract with the Dodgers.

Also See: Jackie Robinson cards tell story of American icon

The Robinson items hit the market just ahead of Jackie Robinson Day on Saturday, April 15.

The auction, which opened April 12 and runs through April 29, features more than 50 original Type 1 photos, including a 1920 Paul Thompson photo of Babe Ruth from his first season with the Yankees.

The auction also features dozens of significant vintage autographed cards, including: a rare 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle rookie card (PSA/DNA 10 Auto); a 1952 Topps Willie Mays (PSA VG 3, PSA/DNA 9 Auto); a Roberto Clemente 1955 Topps rookie (PSA/DNA 7 Auto); and a 1958-62 Exhibit Cassius Clay autograph card (BVG NM 7, Beckett 9 Auto).

Other key, unsigned vintage cards include: a 1911 T205 Gold Border Christy Mathewson (PSA NM-MT 8); one of two examples of the 1922 E120 American Caramel Babe Ruth (PSA NM-MT 8); and a 1977 Crack Futbol Campeonato Disc Diego Maradona rookie card (PSA EX-MT 6).

Also See: Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays cards attracting big dollars 

Among game-used memorabilia is a 1922-25 Babe Ruth game-used bat graded PSA/DNA GU 8.5; a Babe Ruth single-signed baseball from the Hollywood/Altman collection graded PSA/DNA 8 for the autograph; Mickey Mantle’s 1955 signed and executed Yankees uniform player’s contract; and a rare President John F. Kennedy single-signed baseball from his “Alliance for Progress” tour to South America.

Also See: Auctioned Ty Cobb dentures turn out to be fake, new evidence shows

The auction also includes some premium modern cards, including: a 2004 SP Authentic Quadruple Signatures card signed by Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony #11/15 in its highest grade (BGS NM-MT+ 8.5); a 1984-85 Star Michael Jordan card (PSA NM 7); and a 2017 Panini Prizm Rookie Auto Patrick Mahomes (PSA Gem Mint 10, PSA/DNA 10 Auto).

Among modern memorabilia is the jersey Joe Burrow wore during the Bengals victory over the Chiefs on Dec. 4, 2022 and the jersey 2022 AL MVP Aaron Judge wore on opening day of his 2017 AL Rookie of the Year season.

Also available is the Steve Sax Collection, which features two World Series rings, two World Series trophies as several other pieces from the personal collection of the former LA Dodgers star.

Other significant championship jewelry includes: Carl Hubbell’s 1947 Baseball Hall of Fame ring; Ford C. Frick’s 1970 Baseball Hall of Fame ring; Roosevelt Brown’s 1990 New York Giants Super Bowl XXV ring; and Warren Spahn’s 1973 Baseball Hall of Fame ring.

Other auction highlights include:

Auction Highlights

• A rare Roger Peckinpaugh game-worn 1918 New York Yankees road uniform with a WWI memorial armband (MEARS A7.5).

• 1961 Topps Baseball PSA-graded complete master set (596) ranked #12 on PSA Set Registry with 8.07 Set Rating.

• 1894 Pittsburgh Base Ball Club advertising schedule poster.