In the years immediately following World War II, baseball –and baseball cards—entered what we now consider the modern era; a more colorful, vibrant game for those watching, those playing and those who followed from afar. The 1949 Bowman set wasn’t the first to feature color, but it was the first post-War set to use it. This week, we’re offering one of the key cards in the set, a PSA 6-graded 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson. The ’49 Bowman is one of Robinson’s most popular issues and finding one in even reasonably high grade poses a challenge because of the still somewhat primitive printing process and the stock of cardboard used to make them. Near mint-mint cards registered are limited to a precious few. By 1949, Jackie was a big league star. His race was starting to take a backseat to his ability as a player. He would lead the Brooklyn Dodgers to the World Series, but as would be the case for the next several years, the New York Yankees always seemed to be just a tad better than Dem Bums. Our PSA 6 copy of his first-ever Bowman card (and second card overall) exhibits no serious flaws other than imperfect centering. The corners and edges are all quite nice. The back is clean and beautifully centered. We’re already seeing strong action on this card, which is set to close Sunday night. Despite their status in the world of baseball cards, Jackie Robinson cards may still be undervalued. Considering his contributions to the game—and American history—his early trading cards may be a bargain. There is always demand, but we expect that will increase exponentially as time goes on.
