1947 Bond Bread: Jackie's Trailblazing Debut

Card Specs: 2.25" × 3.5" | 13 Cards | Black & White | Classification: Bakery/Bread | D302

The 13-card 1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson subset was released during Robinson’s first year in Major League Baseball. As the league's first African-American player in the modern era, Robinson’s arrival marked the breaking of baseball’s color barrier. The set stands out as one of the earliest, and most important, single-player subsets in the hobby history.

With its 1947 release, Bond Bread stands as Robinson's true cardboard debut, though many consider the mainstream releases from Leaf and Bowman in the following years as his true rookie cards.

1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson variations

The subset includes 13 unnumbered cards, each featuring Robinson in a different pose creating a cohesive visual record of his rookie season through batting, fielding, and portrait images. Bond Bread also released a 48-card multi-player set in which Robinson is included; his card in that set (W571) can be distinguished by the full-bleed photo and rounded corners.

Homogenized Home Run: Bond Bread Card Design

1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson Glove in Air variation

Each 1947 Bond Bread card measures approximately 2¼ inches by 3½ inches, displaying high-quality black-and-white photographs of Robinson framed by a clean white border. The images range from posed portraits to dynamic in-game action shots.

The reverse sides include Bond Bread advertising and a quote attributed to Robinson. There are three known back variations, though all maintain the same general branding and layout. Four of the 13 variations are presented in a landscape orientation, and just one version includes a facsimile autograph and biographical information on the reverse side - it is widely considered the key card and most valuable of the set.

1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson - Portrait, Facsimile Autograph Version

Barrier-Breaking Bread: Distribution and Condition

As a bakery issue, Bond Bread cards were not sold in traditional packs but were instead tied directly to consumer purchases of Bond Bread products. Many of the thin stock cards were handled casually or stored without protection, and the corners and edges are particularly prone to creasing and wear. Consequently, finding high-grade examples is a significant challenge for collectors - fewer than 9% of examples evaluated by PSA have graded above 6.

Recent 1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson Auction Sales

1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson (Portrait, Glove in Air) PSA 3 - Sold for $17,400 - 2024 Spring Auction

1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson (Portrait, Facsimile Auto) PSA 5 - Sold for $16,200 - 2025 Spring Auction

1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson (Batting White Shirt Sleeves) PSA 4 - Sold for $15,375 - 2025 Fall Auction

1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson (Running Down Baseline) PSA 4 - Sold for $7,800 - 2024 Spring Auction

1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson (Throwing) PSA 4 - Sold for $4,080 - 2024 Spring Auction

Selling 1947 Bond Bread Cards

Jackie Robinson is not just a baseball legend - he's an American hero. If you have 1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson cards that you're considering selling, reach out today to connect with a specialist to learn more. We can help with grading and authentication, and guide you on positioning your cards for a top dollar payout.