Jackie Robinson photo, what is it?

[Johnphotoman]

This is amazing stuff, 40+ years of research into photos that have been in my family since 1965-1968... has now been solved. Thanks to members of net54baseball.com: TCMA-Andrew Aronstein and Lucas00 -Lüc@s Dëwėãšę.

Following TCMA's lead about an auction listing, it led me to Lucas00 post in “Anyone recognize this Walter Johnson?” Which he kindly re-posted above. TCMA post was about "Summer, 2023 Premier Auction- (Love of the Game Auctions.) Lot # 329: c.1940's Grover Cleveland Alexander, Type 2 News Service Photo. Here is what it said about the photo that caught my eye, and why I believe TCMA-Andrew Aronstein suggested the site to begin with.

“Mid-1920's image of Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander at the Cubs spring training facility on Catalina Island in California. Though the image hails from the 1920's this particular 6.5" x 8.5" print was developed during the 1940's and served as a "proof" for a company known as "National Sports Photos, Inc." National Sports Photos offered 8" x 10" glossy photo reproductions via mail order, complete with the athletes name added.” (Lot # 329: c.1940's Grover Cleveland Alexander (HOF) Type 2 News Service Photo (PSA/DNA).”

Notice the Grover Cleveland photo was a New Service Photo. Type 2. "New Service Photo" is essentially synonymous with a "wire photo" – it refers to a news photograph transmitted electronically, typically by a news agency, for use by media outlets. Which now appears to be "National Sports Photos, Inc."

Did some digging into (Love of the Game Auctions) and came across a Satchel Paige Wire photo Type 1- Lot #19574. I notice it is the same photo I have; only the athletes name is added in the photo. It is just like the Cleveland photo. Both photos were Wire Photos, then it seems National Sports Photos, Inc. reissued the photos with names on them circa 1940s.

Sometime back I discovered that the photo of Satchel Paige is of him at Yankee Stadium in uniform as a Black Yankees 1941. Photo is in Bettmann/Corbis archives history photos Collections. The Bettmann Archive is one of the most significant historical photo collections in the world, comprising more than 11 million negatives and prints, spanning the 19th and 20th centuries. The Bettmann Archive is housed in a dedicated preservation facility 220 feet underground in a limestone mine, in a state-of-the-art facility with a temperature-controlled environment which ensures that the collection is not only accessible via the expertise of its archivists today, but is also preserved for future generations to come. The Archive was purchased in1995 by Corbis, a photo agency owned by Bill Gates, and later sold to VCG which partners with Getty Images for preservation and distribution. John
First photo is: (Lot# 329: c.1940's Grover Cleveland Alexander (HOF) Type 2 News Service Photo. Second photo: Lot 19574. Third photo: is my photo.

[Johnphotoman]

Taking the information I have discovered on the Jackie Robinson photo…It could be only one of three known to exist. Question- should I have the photo…PSA-certified. I do not like the certification process for photos, but in this case who knows? The photo was taken in 1946, look at the scoreboard, and it was the one used to produce the 1952 Berk Ross baseball card, and there are some modern reprints that use the same image. Maybe I should ask this question on a different thread, what should I do? The problem is I have seen photos like the ones I have, (not the same) certified as type-1,2,and 3. In the case of Jackie Robinson photo the type could be 1 or 2. The truth is there is no way anyone can tell if the image was made within two years of it being taken. John