Early to Mid-1940's Game Used Fielder's Glove Attributed to Jackie Robinson. Well-worn "Rawlings BH" model glove is purported to have been a gift to a Negro Leaguer by the great Jackie Robinson himself, and the evidence is quite compelling. While it should go without saying that any pre-integration baseball gear would lack the sort of verifiable attribution found in today's gloves and bats, glove expert Joe Phillips confirms that this early to mid-1940's glove is similar in style to those we see on Jackie's left hand in period photography, though the few photographs available do not provide enough detail to make a definitive photo match. The provenance of the glove is written on its interior by its subsequent owner and user, Cowan "Bubba" Hyde of the Memphis Red Sox (member 1938-50). His silver sharpie notation reads, "Jackie Robinson's Glove, 1947 Gift to Verdell Mathis 1947. Verdell Gave to me. I used this Glove with Memphis Red Sox ca. 1947--Bubba Hyde."

Mathis and Robinson had been roommates at one time in the Negro League, and it was Mathis to whom Robinson gifted his glove. But, being a southpaw, Mathis was unable to make use of Jackie's glove, passing it on to the lucky Hyde who wore it during that transformative 1947 season. The heavy wear is typical of Negro League gear, though the glove still presents very well. Worth many tens of thousands of dollars with ironclad provenance, this Negro League relic may well be the most significant Robinson piece to surface in the past decade. Letter of examination by Joe Phillips. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA (autograph). Auction LOA from James Spence Authentication (autograph).