A ticket stub from Jackie Robinson's first major league home run game is being auctioned by Heritage Auctions. This rare piece of memorabilia is from the April 18, 1947 game at Ebbets Field, just days after Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier.
A pivotal moment in baseball history is captured in a rare ticket stub now available at Heritage Auctions. This stub is from the historic game on April 18, 1947, at Ebbets Field, where Jackie Robinson hit his first major league home run, marking another significant breakthrough in his pioneering career. This game occurred just five days after Robinson became the first African-American player in major league baseball.
The ticket stub, authenticated by PSA as Authentic, is one of only two known surviving examples from that day. Despite an attendance of over 37,000 fans, few of these stubs have been preserved, making this a particularly rare collector's item.
The game itself was notable not only for Robinson's milestone but also for a managerial shift for the Dodgers. Burt Shotton took over as manager from Leo Durocher, who was serving a suspension due to a series of controversies, including alleged associations with gamblers.
Robinson played first base and batted second that day, making a significant impact with a solo home run off the Giants’ pitcher Dave Koslo in the third inning. The event is immortalized in a photograph from the same day showing Robinson being congratulated by teammate Tommy Tatum, with catcher Clint Courtney looking on.
This auction item is linked not only to the game but also to a broader historical context. Exactly one year prior, Robinson had hit his first professional home run while playing for the minor league Montreal Royals. This earlier home run became widely celebrated later, particularly through a famous photograph showing Robinson shaking hands with his teammate George Shuba. This image symbolized racial unity and was later commemorated with a sculpture in Shuba’s hometown of Youngstown, OH, in 2021.
Collectors and baseball historians have until May 17 to place their bids for this significant piece of sports history, which serves as a reminder of Robinson's enduring legacy in baseball and American culture.