Iconic Jackie Robinson Rookie Card Certified by CSG Featured in Upcoming Heritage Sale

A rare vintage rookie card of one of the most important players in the history of Major League Baseball is among several cards authenticated and graded by Certified Sports Guaranty® (CSG®) in an upcoming Heritage Auctions sale. The card of Brooklyn Dodgers second baseman Jackie Robinson is one of the highlights of Heritage's Sports Catalog Auction 50062, which will be held May 11-13, 2023.

1948 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson graded CSG 3 Click images to enlarge.

The 1948 Leaf #79 Jackie Robinson graded CSG 3, with an estimate of $12,000 and up, is the only true rookie card from the pioneering baseball player's first MLB season. The Robinson rookie was part of the 168-card 1948 Leaf series, which was the first post-World War II set to feature color images. Leaf skipped many of the card numbers, so the master set only contains 101 cards. This historically important vintage series also features numerous cards that are highly sought-after by collectors. Rookie cards of Robinson, Satchel Paige and Bob Feller are key to the set, with veterans such as Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Stan Musial and Warren Spahn also included in the series.

Robinson is one of the most revered players to ever play in the MLB, which is evident each season on "Jackie Robinson Day" as every player from every team wears the second baseman's famous No. 42 jersey number. He joined the Dodgers in 1947, making an instant impact that season and earning the MLB Rookie of the Year award. Robinson would go on to become a six-time All-Star, the 1949 NL MVP and a 1955 World Series champion. His on-field accomplishments would also earn him a place on the Major League Baseball All-Century Team, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

However, Robinson's contributions to society as a whole reach far beyond the baseball diamond. He broke the color barrier when he signed a contract in Brooklyn, becoming the first Black American to play in the majors. He opened doors for future generations and is celebrated to this day league-wide and across the country for his unmatched impact on baseball and American culture.

LEFT: 1951 Berk Ross #1-11 Bob Cousy graded CSG 5.5 RIGHT: 1949 Bowman #224 Satchel Paige graded CSG 5 Click images to enlarge.

The Heritage sale also includes two more CSG-graded vintage cards featuring a pair of sports legends. They are a card of Boston Celtics icon Bob Cousy and an early card from Satchel Paige's short-lived Major League Baseball career. The 1951 Berk Ross #1-11 Bob Cousy graded CSG 5.5 has an estimate of $500 and up, while the 1949 Bowman #224 Satchel Paige graded CSG 5 has an estimate of $4,000 and up. To learn more about these cards, click here.