1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson #79 PSA NM-MT 8....

Description

1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson #79 PSA NM-MT 8. The chicanery inherent in its customary "skip-numbering" ploy aside, Chicago's Leaf Gum Company gave its customers the best-of-the-best in player selection for its baseball series of 1948-49. Well-known diamond personages abound in the issue - which harbors such universally revered heroes as Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial and Ted Williams, for example, along with retrospectives of Ruth and Wagner - and, fittingly, Leaf made room for an especially important entry: the Brooklyn Dodgers' young infielder, Jackie Robinson.

It was a departure from the time's prevailing standard, as collectors - for the first time - eagerly anticipated pulling a star card that featured an African-American from their bubblegum packs. The future Hall of Famer was to reward their excitement on an almost daily basis through an accomplished tenure in the big leagues, and he would build upon those thrills in later years by acting as an unfailingly gracious ambassador for his sport and his community. Jackie's contributions to the game were inspiring beyond description, and a rookie Robinson collectible of the quality offered here stays true to that soaring spirit.

Not surprisingly, in terms of PSA grading, this "key" Leaf depiction is one of the most-submitted cards in its set - the company has validated 627 copies, with only seven specimens receiving stronger, unqualified accolades than this marvelous "8." Placing firmly within the elite range aesthetically, too, the well-centered card delivers fantastic hues -- a deep, rich yellow in the background and delicious blue in the cap - while entirely avoiding the focus liabilities that are so familiar to devotees of the Leaf brand. The back shows vibrant print against clean grey cardstock, while fleeting and barely discernible touches of clean wear can be detected, with difficulty, at one or two of its corners. Finally, the piece boasts absolutely phenomenal image quality, particularly within the context of its cherished but notoriously quality-challenged production.

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