News

An exclusive exhibition featuring original historical baseball photographs and memorabilia is set to highlight baseball's path to integration. "Jackie Robinson and the Color Line" will debut on Monday, April 15, at the Gitterman Gallery in New York, aligning with Major League Baseball's celebration of Jackie Robinson Day, and will continue until May 24.

The exhibition draws from the private collection of Paul Reiferson, a devoted collector, and places a spotlight on pivotal moments and figures in the history of baseball's integration. Among the notable pieces is a vintage gelatin silver print capturing Jackie Robinson's first Major League home run on April 18, 1947, an event symbolizing a significant milestone in the sport's integration narrative. This and other photographs will be accompanied by historic artifacts, mapping the long journey from segregation to integration within baseball.

Reiferson's collection includes a diverse array of photographs, from Jackie Robinson's career highlights with Montreal and Brooklyn to the only known image of Robinson enduring on-field verbal abuse, underlining the profound challenges faced during this era. Also featured are telegrams initiating the historic dialogue between Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers, as well as original photographs of Robinson, Satchel Paige, and other pioneering players who played crucial roles in breaking baseball's color barrier.

The exhibit aims to offer a comprehensive look at the struggles and triumphs of baseball's integration, highlighted by Reiferson's passion for preserving these significant American stories. This unique showcase not only celebrates the achievements of Jackie Robinson and other trailblazers but also reflects on the broader struggle for equality and integration in American society.