• Home
  • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Write for Sports Collectors Daily
    • Write About Your Sports Collection
    • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Hot on Ebay
    • Most Watched Baseball Cards
      • 50 Hottest Baseball Hobby Boxes
      • Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs
      • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
      • Most Watched Vintage Baseball Card Sets
      • Babe Ruth Cards
      • Hank Aaron Cards
      • Mickey Mantle Cards
      • Willie Mays Cards
      • Nolan Ryan Cards
      • T206 Cards
      • Goudey Cards
      • 1952 Topps Cards
    • Most Watched Basketball
      • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2020-21 NBA Rookie Cards
      • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
        • Zion Williamson Rookie Cards
        • Ja Morant Rookie Cards
      • Top Prizm Basketball Auctions
      • Luka Doncic Rookie Cards
      • LeBron James Rookie Cards
      • Michael Jordan Cards
      • Kobe Bryant Cards
      • National Treasures Cards (all sports)
    • Most Watched Football Cards
      • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
      • Most Watched 2020 NFL Rookie Card Auctions
      • Patrick Mahomes Rookie Cards
    • Most Watched Hockey Cards
      • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Most Watched 2019-20 Hockey Rookie Cards
      • Connor McDavid Cards
      • Bobby Orr Cards
    • Most Watched Soccer Cards
    • Most Watched Golf Cards
    • Most Watched Rookie Cards
    • Most Watched PSA 10 Cards
    • Most Watched 1 of 1 Cards
    • Most Watched Memorabilia
    • Most Watched Racing Cards
    • Most Watched Autographs
  • Ending Soon on Ebay
    • Baseball Cards
    • Basketball Cards
    • Football Cards
    • Hockey Cards
    • Golf Cards
    • Vintage Sports Memorabilia
  • Lelands

Sports Collectors Daily

Sports collecting news - Sports cards and sports memorabilia industry news.

Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we may receive a commission.  It helps keep us afloat!

  • Sports Memorabilia News
    • Barnebys Sports Auction Highlights
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
      • Shop Talk
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Affordable Vintage Cards, Collectibles
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
    • Hobby Shops Selling, Breaking Online During COVID-19
  • Around The Hobby
    • Editor’s Blog
    • David Cycleback’s Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Popular Stories
  • Sell Your Cards
You are here: Home / Popular Stories / Jackie Robinson Baseball Cards: A Guide to His Best
Mile High Card Co.

Jackie Robinson Baseball Cards: A Guide to His Best

April 8, 2017 By Rich Mueller

Jackie Robinson baseball cards have always been popular and what few game worn jerseys, bats and other items have survived always sell for significant amounts of money.  While no mainstream card company really existed in the aftermath of World War II, there were cards issued of him in 1947 and by ’48, bubble gum and cards were back together again and Robinson helped usher in the golden era of cards that began in the early 1950’s.

Much of the trading card focus is usually on the 1948 Leaf Robinson.  It’s his first mainstream issue, having been distributed with Leaf’s gum card set which despite the “1948” date was actually issued in 1949.  The series is Jackie Robinson rookie cardoften plagued with poor centering, ghosting and other problems so while the card itself isn’t that hard to find on eBay or a major show, high grade cards are hard to find.  In 2016, two PSA 7 Robinsons sold for over $20,000 while a 6 sold for $7,887. 

Jackie Robinson Bond Bread Rookie Card 1947Back of 1947 Bond Bread cardThe Non-Traditional but “Real” Jackie Robinson Rookie Cards

Robinson’s ‘true’ rookie cards, however, were issued by Bond Bread in 1947.  There were 13 cards issued—all of Robinson and all aimed at selling loaves of bread with one card per pack (see right).

Long-time collectors and dealers still talk about a New York sports card convention in the 1970s when a man walked in with a stack of 75 virtually mint examples of one of the cards in the Bond Robinson set.  The man explained that he’d been handed the stack by a Bond Bread delivery driver that year but wasn’t able to obtain any other cards. Most of those were distributed years ago but the original owner saved a few, consigning one to Robert Edward Auctions, which sold it in 2013 for $1,896.

There was a separate set of players from New York teams that were borderless and have rounded corners (see left).  If you see one of those with square corners, it’s not likely the real thing.

“Because of this long-ago find and accompanying story, we have always thought that this uniquely designed card in the set may have been produced to be given out at stores directly by grocers at the checkout counter, as a special advertising vehicle when the set was announced,” the auction house explained in its write-up for last year’s catalog.  The other cards were issued one card per loaf and carried only the advertising on the back.

Other 1947 Bond Bread Robinson cards rarely come up for auction, are rarely in higher graded when they do because of having been in bread packages, yet still sell for a few thousand dollars each.  PSA’s Set Registry shows only three current complete sets that have been graded.  You can check availability on eBay here.

Exhibits and Blue Tints

Early, cheap Jackie Robinson cards collectors should consider would include the 1947-1966 Exhibit card, which shows an vintage photo of Robinson.  The size of a postcard, Exhibits were sold as part of a huge set distributed through arcade machines over that 20-year span.  Fairly good quality examples of the Robinson can be readily found for less than $100.  It’s hard to imagine at least some appreciation over time for these colorless, oversized cards.

1948 Blue Tint Jackie RobinsonAlso targeted by collectors and investors is the 1948 R346 ‘Blue Tint’ Robinson cards, which are quite scarce.  Originally issued in strips, they are usually found hand cut, often crudely.  Part of a larger set of major leaguers, they measure only about  2” by 2 5/8” and are a bit of a mystery.  Likely produced in the New York area utilizing photos provided by the teams, there were 50 cards in all.  PSA has graded fewer than 20 with only four carrying a numerical grade.  The others are listed as ‘authentic’ because of the hand cut.

Other Important Jackie Robinson Cards

Robinson also appears on a promotional card issued by Old Gold Cigarettes in 1948 and in the Swell Sport Thrills issue from that season.  Both are excellent options that cost far less than the mainstream Robinson rookie cards.

He wasn’t in the 1948 set, but the 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson is also popular, although it’s a stretch to call it a rookie card.  Robinson’s card is valued at $1100 in EX conditiion but can sell for five figures at the higher end.

You can find vintage throughout the 1950’s as well, with the ’52 Topps issue far and away the most expensive because of its placement in the high number series.  Robinson did not appear in Bowman’s 1951 set, however.  The last card from his playing days was the 1956 Topps issue.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Reddit
  • Facebook Messenger

Related Stories:

Jackie Robinson 1947 photoPhoto of the Day: Original Image From Jackie Robinson MVP Presentation Hello, Jackie: Original 1947 Robinson Arrival Photo Leads off RMY Sale Photo Of The Day: Jackie Robinson in Havana, Spring Training 1947 Eddie Mathews 1952 Topps rookie card1952 Topps Eddie Mathews is One of Era’s Most Desirable Willie Mays PSA 9 1954 ToppsSay Hey: The Best Willie Mays Cards to Own Billy Martin 1969 ToppsBilly Martin Cards Chronicle Fast, Furious Life Best Rookie Baseball Cards of the 1950'sBest Baseball Rookie Cards by Year: The 1950s ‘Partial Diamond’ Variation Discovered For 1955 Topps Jackie Robinson Card 1987 Topps Football: Return to “Normalcy”
Avatar

About Rich Mueller

Rich is the editor and founder of Sports Collectors Daily. A broadcaster and writer for more than 30 years and a collector for even longer than that, he's usually typing something somewhere. Type him back at [email protected]

Filed Under: Popular Stories, Vintage Sports Card News Tagged With: 1947, 1948 Leaf, 1952 Topps, brooklyn dodgers, Jackie Robinson baseball cards, rookie cards

Trackbacks

  1. News Sports | jackie robinson rookie card says:
    December 4, 2013 at 1:46 pm

    […] Jackie Robinson Baseball Playing Cards: Moviegoers' Guide to His Rookie … https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.com/jackie-robinson-baseball-Cards-moviegoers-Information-to-his-rookie-Cards-and-extra/ Apr 12, 2013 … It's his first mainstream problem, having been distributed with Leaf's gum card set that Yr. The sequence is Jackie Robinson rookie card … […]

Our articles may contain affiliate links. When you click one and make a purchase, we receive a commission.  The revenue is what helps keep SC Daily afloat!

What\
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • Hockey

Bargain Corner

  • Michael Jordan Cards Under $5
  • Mickey Mantle Cards Under $100
  • Graded T206 Cards Under $75
  • Pre-1980 Graded Baseball Cards $5 and Less
  • Pre-1985 Graded Football Cards $5 and Less
  • Pre-1980 Graded Basketball Cards $5 and Less
  • Pre-1990 Graded Hockey Cards $5 and Less
  • Complete Sets Under $10 with Free Shipping
  • Baseball Hall of Famers for $5 or Less
  • Football Hall of Famers for $5 or Less
  • Hobby Boxes Under $30
  • Pre-1986 Rookie Cards Under $1

RSS Auction Report

  • Steve Novella Offers PSA Graded Football, Basketball, Baseball & Autographed Cards Ending January 19-21, 2021
  • CollectibleXchange February 2021 Auction Preview – Register Now
  • Heritage Auctions Modern Sports Cards Catalog Auction – Ends February 4, 2021


Categories

  • Around the Hobby
  • Business/Industry News
    • Sports Memorabilia Business News
    • Sports Memorabilia Industry News
  • David Cycleback's Identification and Authentication Advice
  • Editor's Blog
  • Hobby Shop Talk
  • National Sports Collectors Convention
  • Popular Stories
  • Rich Klein's Ramblings
  • Sports Card News
    • Modern Sports Card News
      • New Sports Card Release Calendar
    • Vintage Sports Card News
      • Old Baseball Card Sets
      • Old Basketball Card Sets
      • Old Football Card Sets
      • Old Hockey Card Sets
      • Vintage Pack Facts
  • Sports Memorabilia News

Sponsor Links

  • Sports Card Forum
  • Buying Vintage Sports Cards
  • Game Used Jerseys
  • 1952 Topps Baseball
  • Championship Rings For Sale
  • Vintage Basketball Cards
  • NBA Signed Items
  • Signed Sports Memorabilia
  • UFC Memorabilia
  • Autographed Baseballs
  • NASCAR Autographs
  • Vintage Graded Baseball Cards
  • Player Pictures
  • Vintage Football Cards
  • Sports Card Boxes
  • Sports Collectors Store

Pages

  • 100 Hottest 2019-20 NBA Rookie Cards
  • 100 Hottest UFC Trading Cards
  • 100 Most Watched Golf Trading Cards on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Graded Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • 100 Most Watched Wrestling Trading Cards on eBay
  • 20 Hottest Barry Sanders Football Cards
  • 2016 Cubs Replica Championship Rings Don’t Cost a Fortune
  • 2017 Topps Definitive Collection Box Breaks, Most Watched
  • 2019 Toronto Raptors NBA Championship Memorabilia Guide
  • 2019 US Women’s World Cup Apparel, Merchandise, Memorabilia Guide
  • 50 Hottest Baseball Hobby Boxes at Auction on eBay
  • 50 Hottest Kareem Hunt Rookie Cards
  • 50 Most Watched Kevin Durant Auctions on eBay
  • 75 Most Watched Bowman Chrome Cards
  • 8 Types of Kobe Bryant Collectibles to Remember Him By
  • Aaron Judge Game Used Memorabilia Inventory Growing
  • About Us/Contact/Advertise
    • Advertise with SC Daily
    • Contact Us
    • Get Sports Collectors Daily via EMail
  • Affordable Vintage Sports Cards and Collectibles
  • Barnebys Sports Memorabilia Auctions
  • Baseball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Basketball Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Best Derek Jeter Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Best Display Cabinets for Sports Memorabilia
  • Best Joey Votto Rookie Cards
  • Best Pascal Siakam Rookie Cards
  • Chiefs Super Bowl Champs Memorabilia Hits the Market
  • Current Most Watched Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Dale Murphy Rookie Card Remains Popular, Affordable
  • Eagles Super Bowl Champions Memorabilia Guide
  • Fanatics Under Wraps 2017 Next Level Edition Autographed Baseballs
  • Football Card Auctions on eBay Ending Soon
  • Frank Gore Rookie Cards Get No Respect
  • Gardner Minshew Rookie Cards Heat Up as Fun-Loving Rookie Shows His Ability
  • Great Gifts for Cubs Fans
  • Guide to 2018-19 Clemson Tigers National Championship Memorabilia
  • Guide to Houston Astros Championship Memorabilia
  • Guide to LSU National Championship Merchandise, Memorabilia
  • Guide to Nationals World Series Champs Memorabilia, Merchandise
  • Guide to St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup Champions Merchandise, Memorabilia
  • Guide to Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Memorabilia
  • Hank Aaron Cards on eBay
  • Henrik Lundqvist Rookie Cards a Strong Long-Term Play
  • Hockey Card Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Hottest 2019 Baseball Rookie Cards
  • Hottest 2019 NFL Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Chicago Bulls Memorabilia Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest Devin Booker Rookie Cards as Suns Star Piles Up Points
  • Hottest Kyle Lewis Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Lonzo Ball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Panini National Treasures Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Panini World Cup Stickers on eBay
  • Hottest Pokémon Card Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest PSA 10 Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Hottest Topps Living Set Auctions on eBay
  • Hottest Topps NOW Cards on eBay
  • Hottest Xander Bogaerts Rookie Cards
  • LeBron James Lakers Jerseys Already Available
  • Links
  • Mickey Mantle Cards on eBay
  • Most Popular Bobbleheads on eBay
  • Most Popular Mark McGwire Rookie Card Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched 1/1 Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Basketball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Complete Baseball Card Sets at Auction on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Football Rookie Card Auctions
  • Most Watched Goudey Baseball Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Hockey Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Kobe Bryant Basketball Card Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched Racing Cards on eBay
  • Most Watched Soccer Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Autographs on eBay
  • Most Watched Sports Jerseys on eBay
  • Most Watched Topps Project 2020 Auctions on eBay
  • Most Watched Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Most Watched Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay
  • Nick Bosa Rookie Cards Getting Collectors’ Attention
  • Patriots Super Bowl 51 Champions Merchandise
  • Ryne Sandberg Rookie Cards, Minor League Issues Still Collector Favorites
  • Selling Sports Cards on eBay for Cash
  • Sports Memorabilia Auctions Ending Soon on eBay
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Test
  • The 2013 Bowman Chrome Draft Kris Bryant Auto Saga: A Timeline
  • Tony Gwynn Rookie Cards Recall “The Best Hitter Since Ted”
  • Top 100 Most Watched Baseball Rookie Cards on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Basketball Rookie Cards for Sale on eBay
  • Top 100 Most Watched Hockey Rookie Card Auctions
  • Top Authenticated Vintage Unopened Sports Card Boxes, Packs on eBay
  • Top Selling Patriots Super Bowl Championship Items
  • Upper Deck Authenticated Autographs Remain Popular, Accessible
  • Vintage Sports Memorabilia on eBay Ending Soon
  • Wade Boggs Rookie Cards Still a Collector Favorite
  • What’s Hot on eBay
  • What’s It Worth
  • Where Can I Sell My Baseball Cards?
  • Where to Buy the Anthony Fauci Topps Baseball Card
  • Write About Your Sports Collection
  • Write for Sports Collectors Daily

Copyright © 2021 SportsCollectorsDaily.com | Genesis Web Design by Wickam Group