Jackie Robinson: The chicken or the egg?

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by HolyGrail

The photo of Robinson and Rickey is truly iconic.

1) How do folks feel about the $30 million insurance appraisal?

2) Does anyone want to make an argument for preferring to own the contract instead of the jersey?

The contract is important for the impact it had on baseball. It is what broke the color barrier and its significance far exceeds that of the player himself. The jersey's importance is tied to the caliber of the player. If I was a Jackie Robinson collector my money would go to the jersey all day, every day. I'm not, so my preference would be for the more significant hobby-related item.

[71buc]

I would prefer the contract. I also think it's sad that either of these American Treasures could wind up in a private collection. The contract belongs in the National Civil Rights Museum and the Jersey in the Smithsonian. Such precious artifacts should belong to us all as citizens.

[HolyGrail]

Yes, it's hard to think of two items which should belong in a museum more than this jersey and contract.

It's hard to think of anything else in the hobby which holds such historic importance. Nothing comes to my mind.

[Dave Grob]

Chris,

Interesting and defendable position that the significance of the contract as an act, trancends the signifcance of the player (any player). Not to put words in your mouth (or strokes on your key board), but that is what I took from your post.

Dave Grob

[Bestdj777]

Originally Posted by Dave Grob

Chris,

Interesting and defendable position that the significance of the contract as an act, trancends the signifcance of the player (any player). Not to put words in your mouth (or strokes on your key board), but that is what I took from your post.

Dave Grob

Hi Dave,

You said it more eloquently than me--that's what I get for typing while balancing a fussy baby--but definitely what I meant. Either way, it will be cool to see the results.

Chris

[Shoeless Moe]

Plus you can wear the jersey when playing softball with your friends or to a Party

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

Plus you can wear the jersey when playing softball with your friends or to a Party

True, but you can take notes in the margins of the contract.

[MrSeven]

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

Plus you can wear the jersey when playing softball with your friends or to a Party

Had to remind me of that scene from Seinfeld where Steinbrenner wears Gehrig's pants around the office.

[irv]

Originally Posted by Mark70Z

In almost every case I'd choose the GU jersey, but with Robinson signing and breaking the color barrier, in this case, and changing baseball and bringing a change to civil rights, I'd have to go with the contract. Man, every baseball fan has seen the pictures of Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson signing the contract and the smiles on their faces. Both very, very cool, but the contract would be my pick.

I agree a 100%. The contract, and it's significance, far outweighs the Jersey in this case.

[botn]

I am a card guy but is it at all remarkable to those of you who deal/collect memorabilia that all of this rookie era Roby memorabilia came to auction at the same time? Goldin with the contracts, Lelands with the cap, Heritage with the jersey and Hunt has a rookie era glove. All of these items had to have been consigned at the same time to the various houses based on the auction endings. Though outside this timeline, last year Heritage had the 1947 bat as well that sold in late 2016. Hate to be a skeptic...

Thanks,
Greg

[Cmount76]

I'm a collector and I proudly display as much as I have space for - That said, a 1947 Jackie Robinson jersey displays a whole helluva lot cooler than a contract.

[mcgwirecom]

I'm a jersey guy. Much better appeal when framed and displayed than a contract. Also if I remember correctly there are up to 3 copies of a players contract. He gets one, the club gets one and they file one with the league.

[btcarfagno]

The Jersey he played his first game in? Absolutely the Jersey. Otherwise, the contracts all day every day. A rookie Jersey can only be tied to "probably". He probably wore this when he experienced that. Not trying to dismiss the significance of a Jackie Robinson rookie year Jersey by any means. It is a transcendent item.

However.

Without Jackie signing those contracts none of it happens. Without what happened between Rickey and Robinson in that office on the day that it was signed, none of it happens. They may not look as nice on display. But for a decent percentage of our population, those two signed contracts mean more than a signed copy of the Declaration of Independence.

Tom C

[Dave Grob]

Tom,

Thanks for the post on the question. As I read your response, for you the argument for the signifcane of the contracts is based on sequence or the necessary enabling actions that made the wearing of the jersey even possible.

Dave Grob

[Mark]

As a collector of game used stuff, I would take the Jersey. But if I were the curator of a museum, I would certainly prefer the contract. As has been said, signing it changed the country.

[btcarfagno]

Originally Posted by Dave Grob

Tom,

Thanks for the post on the question. As I read your response, for you the argument for the signifcane of the contracts is based on sequence or the necessary enabling actions that made the wearing of the jersey even possible.

Dave Grob

In this case, yes.

1932 Bill Dickey. Contract or Jersey? Jersey.

1947 Ted Williams. Contract or Jersey? Jersey.

1955 Roberto Clemente. Contract or Jersey? Jersey.

THESE Robinson contracts or THAT Robinson jersey? To me it's not close.

Tom C

[Mark70Z]

In almost every case I'd choose the GU jersey, but with Robinson signing and breaking the color barrier, in this case, and changing baseball and bringing a change to civil rights, I'd have to go with the contract. Man, every baseball fan has seen the pictures of Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson signing the contract and the smiles on their faces. Both very, very cool, but the contract would be my pick.