Lot # 2654: 1954 Sandy Koufax Original Rookie Photograph PSA/DNA Type I - First Appearance in a Brooklyn Dodgers Uniform and Same Shoot as 1955 Topps Rookie!

Outstanding and significant early original photograph of Sandy Koufax donning a Brooklyn Dodgers uniform for the first time on December 22, 1954, shortly after signing with the franchise, just days shy of his 19th birthday. Koufax signed with the Dodgers on December 14, 1954, for a league minimum $6,000 base salary along with a $14,000 signing bonus. He was labeled a “Bonus Baby” after receiving a signing bonus exceeding $6,000, which obligated the Dodgers to keep him on their 25-man roster for the next two full seasons or risk losing him to the waiver wire. While Koufax's first few seasons were undoubtedly a bit erratic, his talent was undeniable, and the Dodgers stuck with him. Koufax ultimately rewarded the club's faith and blossomed into one of the most dominant starting pitchers in Major League history. This poignant photograph captures Koufax's optimistic youth, completely unaware of the impact he would have on the team for more than a decade. Interestingly, this image was produced during the same photography session that yielded Koufax's iconic 1955 Topps rookie card image. The photograph (7 x 9 inches) is in Very Good to Excellent condition overall with some minor, unobtrusive creasing. Encapsulated and certified as an original Type I photo by PSA/DNA. Full LOA from PSA/DNA.