Albersheim's 2015 June Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/7/2015
Bankhead was the first black pitcher in Major League Baseball. After a strong career in the Negro League playing for the Memphis Red Sox, he was signed at age 24 by Branch Rickey to play in the Brooklyn Dodgers farm system. Bankhead, an excellent hitter who was leading the Negro League with a .385 batting average when purchased by the Dodgers, hit a home run in his first major league at bat on August 26, 1947, in Ebbets Field against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This would be the only major league home run Bankhead would hit, and he gave up ten hits in 3-1/3 innings pitching in relief that day. He was shipped to the minor leagues for the 1948 and 1949 seasons. Pitching for clubs in Nashua, New Hampshire and St. Paul, Minnesota in 1948, he recorded 24 wins and six losses. Also depicted in the photo are teammates – Eddie Miksis and Stan Rojek. Historic!!!
This is an original 6.5 x 8.5 ACME photo from 8/26/1947. On the reverse side is a stamp dated 9/19/1947.