A Brooklyn Dodgers hat worn by Jackie Robinson, which was reinforced with protective plates sewn into the lining to protect the first African American player in the major leagues from being hit in the head by protesters, fetched a record $590,000 at Lelands.com Masters Auction on Friday, the N.Y. Daily News reported.
It is the only hat Robinson's widow, Rachel Robinson, has made available to collectors, according to Lelands, and it is the most a hat has gone for at auction, per the Daily News.
The hat's protective plates were reportedly sewn into the lining to protect Jackie Robinson's head in case objects were thrown at him by racial protesters after he broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947.
Robinson, who won the Rookie of the Year Award that season, and has since had the award named in his honor — along with his No. 42 retired throughout the majors — hit .297 with 12 homers and 48 RBI, while stealing 29 bases and having 28 sacrifices, both league highs. He was also hit by a pitch nine times that season, and proceeded to lead the league in that category in his second year.
All told, Robinson was hit by a pitch 72 times in his 10-year career, including a career-high 14 times in 1952.
The record $590,000 sale price for the collectors item came after an opening bid of $50,000.
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