MEARS Monthly Auction #5 ENDS April 28th, 2009, 9:00 CST w/ 15-minute rule

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Lot #5:

1946 First Interracial Handshake 8x10 from George Shuba's Personal Collection

In the mid-1940s, Shuba was recruited by the Montreal Royals, a major farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers. On April 18, 1946, the Royals took on the Jersey City Giants, whose players included future baseball legend Jackie Robinson. During the game, he was captured in an iconic photograph shaking hands with Jackie Robinson, who had just "smacked a 335-foot (102 m) home run over the left fence at Roosevelt Stadium". The moment was described as "the first interracial handshake" in North American baseball's recent history. This is George's personal copy presented to him by the photographer and retained by him. The original 8x10 had some condition problems and was sent to Paul Messier for restoration. (before and after photographs supplied with lot) Given the historical significance of this event as it pertains to blacks entering the white major leagues, this picture, the original photograph that represents the day that changed baseball forever. If there is a more significant historical photograph that better tells the story of the day major league baseball changed forever, we have yet to see it. This is history in the making. Now fully restored to it's original beauty, this piece is worthy of the greatest baseball collection of historical museum. This photograph represents the day the color line was broken forever. You can contact George at www.georgeshuba.com