1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson

Card & Playing Highlights

The 1949 Bowman Jackie Robinson stands as one of the defining cards in hobby history, a vibrant, post-war classic that captures Robinson’s rising stardom just two years after breaking Major League Baseball’s color barrier. Unlike his earlier, scarcer 1948 Leaf issue, the 1949 Bowman features cleaner photography, bolder color, and the simple yet iconic Bowman design that helped usher in the modern baseball card era.

Issued in Bowman’s first full-color set, the card embodies the optimism and changing face of baseball in the late 1940s. Printed on smaller, hand-cut stock and distributed in penny packs with gum, these cards are notoriously difficult to find in high grade due to centering and print quality.

On the field, Robinson was electric, the 1949 season saw him win the National League MVP, leading the league in batting average and steals while anchoring Brooklyn’s pennant chase. His combination of power, speed, and competitive fire redefined what a baseball superstar could be, both statistically and culturally.

Explore everything here — historical context, grading insights, population data, and links to shop and recent notable sales.

Rarity Data

Graded copies: 2,700-3,000

Highest grade: 10

Premium grades: ~265 copies (14%) are graded at or above a 6.5 (EX-MT+)

Note: Many collectors speculate that only 25-40% of the total population of these cards are in graded.  New graded copies are limited at this point which may indicate a greater volume are graded.