Sold for $1,200

April 10, 1947 remains one of the most momentous days not only in Major League Baseball but in American history; it was on this day that Jackie Robinson had his contract purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Montreal Royals, making him the first African American signed to a Major League contract.

From SABR.ORG:
The biggest crowd to watch the Dodgers all spring (14,282) greeted Robinson warmly during batting practice and saw the Royals score all their runs in the fourth inning against Branca ... Just after Robinson popped into a double play attempting to bunt in the fifth inning, Arthur Mann, an assistant to Rickey, handed out a brief announcement in the press box: “The Brooklyn Dodgers today purchased the contract of Jackie Roosevelt Robinson from the Montreal Royals.” The words were few, but the significance would resound beyond the game itself.

Robinson actually learned of his promotion to the Dodgers that very morning when Rickey called him into his office to tell him the news. Despite flawless defense at first base, it wasn’t very surprising that he went hitless as well in his other at-bats against the Dodgers – a walk, a groundout to the pitcher, and a pop fly to the shortstop.He left Rickey’s office in a trance, modestly admitting later that he didn’t think he was too impressive in that last game with the Royals. “But that was because, I guess, I couldn’t keep my mind on the game all the time.”

For the first game of the season the Dodgers had opted to reuse programs from the previous year, however the unexpectedly large turnout of fans eager to see Jackie Robinson make his first appearance at Ebbets Field led the Dodgers to print additional programs with the proper "1947" date on the front cover; the original programs with the "1946" date are the more scarce of the two variants.

Original baseball program with completed scorecard and additional notations recording attendance and roster changes. Toning, closed tears along top of cover.

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