Jackie Robinson 70th anniversary auction to benefit JRF ending April 29
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2017
The 1936 Berlin Olympics are among the most important & influential in history, as the dominant display by Jesse Owens forever etched in athletic laurels one of the most indelible feats in Olympic history. Adolf Hitler, who attended the games, was determined to showcase the Olympics as a proving grounds for the Aryan race, where Germany's white athletes could prove their physical superiority to the rest of the world.
Instead, Jesse Owens, shattered that myth, accomplishing a nearly impossible goal of winning FOUR GOLD MEDALS in Track & Field events and destroying Hitler's dream in his home country. Jesse Owens vintage large bold signature highlights and fills the top center of this photo (of the German Countryside) along with 93 other vintage boldly signed signatures of his U S Olympic Teammates.
Another African American star athlete from this Olympic Games to sign this piece was Mac Robinson, the older brother of future Major Leaguer Jackie. Mack took the silver medal in the 200 meters, finishing only .4 seconds behind the gold medalist Owens. Further crushing the Hitler dream of white supremacy and signing this scarcity were African American Olympic Gold Medalists Cornelius Johnson (High jump), Ralph Metcalfe (4x100 meter gold & 100 meter dash, silver) , Archie Williams (400 meter run) and John Woodruff (800 meter run).
Other notable signers include Bob Clark (Decathlon), Glenn Cunningham (Captain/wresting USA), Frank Lewis (USA Wresting), Jim Needles (USA/Coach Basketball), Jack Parker (Decathlon), Alton Terry (Javelin), Bill Wheatley (USA/Basketball) This item comes in a 22 x 25 custom inch frame and signatures are all VINTAGE & VERY BOLD. This comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA.