"Jackie Robinson and the Color Line": A Special Exhibition Celebrating Baseball's Integration Era

The journey of baseball towards integration is the focus of a forthcoming exhibit, "Jackie Robinson and the Color Line," opening April 15 at the Gitterman Gallery in New York, on the occasion of Major League Baseball's Jackie Robinson Day, running through May 24.

Curated from the extensive collection of passionate collector Paul Reiferson, the exhibit will showcase original baseball photographs and memorabilia that document the pivotal era of integration within the sport. Among the exhibition's highlights is a historic photograph of Jackie Robinson's first major league home run on April 18, 1947, a significant event that underscored the breaking of baseball's color barrier. This collection aims to narrate the story of integration in baseball through visual and physical artifacts, from the late 19th century's early integrated teams to Robinson's iconic career milestones.

The exhibit is enriched with rare items, including the first-known photograph of Robinson facing on-field discrimination, telegrams that marked the beginning of Robinson's relationship with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and original photos used in LIFE magazine depicting Robinson and Satchel Paige. Each piece serves to illuminate the struggles and achievements that characterized baseball's integration.

Paul Reiferson's commitment to preserving and sharing these stories of American history is evident in the exhibit, which also features memorabilia of other key figures like Larry Doby, Don Newcombe, and Roy Campanella, who contributed to breaking the color barrier in baseball.