August 6, 2020: Summer Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/6/2020
Here is a spectacular group of artifacts from the estate of Hall of Famer Joe DiMaggio, an elegant 16-by-21-inch matted and framed certificate from Sportfolio Magazine denoting The Yankee Clipper’s inclusion on an imposing list of the top athletes from 1947. Included with the 10-by-13-inch certificate is a Near-Mint copy of the February 1948 Sportfolio Magazine (5 ¼-by-7 ½ inches, 130 pages), which included a feature article on the Athlete(s) of the Year, plus a letter from the magazine’s managing editor to DiMaggio notifying him of the award. The certificate is sensational, with ornate gold-leaf accents as a border and with an official gold seal, with inscription at the top of “Helms Athletic Foundation Sportfolio, Athlete of the Year, 1947.” DiMaggio is one of three baseball players – Jackie Robinson and Joe Page are the others – that are part of the 11 Professionals that also included 1947 luminaries from football, basketball, golf and tennis (Bobby Riggs). Two other categories – Amateur and Women – featured 11 names each, headlined by the great Babe Didrikson Zaharias. As noted, the Ex-Mt-Plus certificate is attractively matted and framed in a heavy black-metal arrangement that extends four inches on each side and top and bottom. The third element of the lot, the personal letter to DiMaggio from the magazine notifying him of the award, is 7 ¼-by-10 ½ inches and is simply superb, essentially as issued, on Sportfolio letterhead and comes with the original mailing tube (13 inches) and address label. All three items come from the DiMaggio Estate, with Letter of Authenticity signed by two of his granddaughters included.
1947 Joe DiMaggio Sportfolio Athlete of the Year Award From the Estate (3)
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