(LOT 590)
1939 Play Ball #26 Joe DiMaggio PSA 9 MINT
39 DIMAGGIO!!!... DiMaggio was a three-time MVP winner and an All-Star in each of his 13 seasons. During his tenure with the Yankees, the club won ten American League pennants and nine World Series championships. At the time of his retirement, he ranked fifth in career home runs (361) and sixth in career slugging percentage (.579). He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955, and was voted the sport's greatest living player in a poll taken during the baseball centennial year of 1969.

DiMaggio's most famous achievement is his MLB record-breaking 56-game hitting streak in 1941. The streak began on May 15, 1941, when DiMaggio went one-for-four against Chicago White Sox pitcher Eddie Smith. Major newspapers began to write about DiMaggio's streak early on, but as he approached George Sisler's modern era record of 41 games, it became a national phenomenon. On July 17 at Cleveland Stadium, DiMaggio's streak was finally snapped at 56 games, thanks in part to two backhand stops by third baseman Ken Keltner. DiMaggio batted .408 during the streak, with 15 home runs and 55 RBI. The day after the streak ended, DiMaggio started another streak that lasted 16 games.

The distinction of hitting safely in 72 of 73 games is also a record. Offered here is a Joltin Joe 1939 Play Ball B&W issue. Despite his appearance on a few earlier premiums and novelty issues, many advanced collectors consider this to be DiMaggio's true rookie card. A low pop PSA 9 with nothing grading higher makes this one to own. A brilliant card with stunning features.

MIN BID $3,500