(LOT 50)
"Rare for the Grade" 1936 World Wide Gum Joe DiMaggio Rookie Card (SGC 60/5) - "1 of 1; Only One SGC Example Graded Higher"!
DIMAGGIO ROOKIE!!!... Only a handful of baseball icons could possibly compete with the National popularity and admiration bestowed upon the legendary "Yankee Clipper", Joe DiMaggio. Throughout his playing days and post-retirement years, "Joltin" Joe's overall persona was perceived with magnificent awe and respect, as he represented the ultimate embodiment of a National hero. His 56 game hitting streak in 1941 just may be baseball's greatest record, such to the point that a song was written about Joe that same season personifying everything he meant to the game. For these reasons alone, vintage collectors actively seek DiMaggio's most valuable cardboard gems, and with that in mind, presented here is Joe DiMaggio's TRUE Rookie card, the 1936 World Wide Gum that depicts his inaugural Yankee representation on a baseball card.

Graded an outstanding SGC 60/5, only a sole other SGC specimen exists at this plateau with a single example graded higher! Furthermore, as a testament to the ultra-rare mid-grade tier is PSA's "op" chart that only lists 3 copies at the "EX-5" level and a sole specimen graded higher. It is critical to note that the 1933 – '36 DiMaggio Zeenuts has been, in some instances, erroneously referred to as the DiMaggio rookie card. This is absolutely misleading and not the case! While certainly "Joe D's" first issue ever, a "TRUE" rookie card is the first issue of a player in a MAJOR LEAGUE uniform. The 1933 DiMaggio Zeenut depicts him in his San Francisco Seals minor league uniform, not the Yankee uniform portrayed on this spectacular SGC 60/5 offering. Simply stated, a rookie card must present the player in his first major league uniform (we can use, as an analogy, Roger Clemens.

His rookie card is, undoubtedly, the 1984 Fleer Update, not his previously issued Boston Red Sox Pawtucket minor league card). Regarding aesthetics, "Joltin Joe's" stoic black & white portrait pose provides clear focus and sharp contrast, with the well-centered image reflecting the typical favoritism towards the lower edge (a majority of '36 WWG DiMaggio's tend to favor the lower edge). Additional attributes include relatively square corners with only modest wear, sharp edging, no major creasing or surface flaws, and a verso portraying bold black print affixed to a clean surface. In closing, while there are some hobbyists that steadfastly claim cards such as Babe Ruth's 1914 Baltimore News, and DiMaggio's 1933 Zeenut should be classified as their rookie cards. While everyone is surely entitled to an opinion, it makes perfect sense that a "true" rookie card designation should only apply to a card depicting them as an inaugural MAJOR LEAGUE player, and NOT a minor league affiliate.

Therefore, this stellar offering depicting the "Yankee Clipper" as a New York Yankee certainly applies as "Joe D's" true rookie card. While we do need to point out there are a handful of other 1936 DiMaggio issues including "Wide" and "Fine" Pen postcard sized cards, these cards include DiMaggio with other players (McCarthy and Erickson, respectively), and most hobby purists prefer a conventional sized baseball card as opposed to its oversized peers. DiMaggio's exploits on a baseball diamond as well as his iconic "off the field" stature will echo for eternity, justifying why this seldom surfacing "EX" graded rookie card would be a world-class addition to any esteemed rookie card or Hall of Fame gathering!

MIN BID $3,000