Following what was perhaps the greatest debut season in baseball history (.340 batting average with a 61-game hitting streak), Joe DiMaggio appeared on his very first baseball card. The much-coveted "Batting" collectible, issued under the Zeenut brand, pictures the eventual Hall of Famer as a member of the Pacific Coast League's San Francisco Seals. As seen on this first of DiMaggio's sought-after mementos, the young player is following through on the swing that would cement his immortality.

Zeenut baseball cards were issued by the Collins-McCarthy Candy Company from 1911 through 1938. There were well over 3,000 different Zeenut cards produced, all depicting PCL players. Many PCL greats were pictured in the series, but there can be no doubt that the greatest of them all was Joe DiMaggio. Joe DiMaggio (with his surname misspelled "DeMaggio") was the subject of two different cards, this batting pose and a throwing portrayal. All of the Zeenuts that were issued between 1913 and 1937 had a coupon at the bottom which enabled consumers to save for "valuable premiums." Nearly every Zeenut encountered, today, has had this coupon removed, and it is estimated that less than 2% of the existing cards still have it attached. Without the coupon, it's difficult to determine the year of issue of the two DiMaggio cards. But, through examination of cards with coupons, it's been verified that this batting pose was issued first, in 1934, with its coupon stating an "expiration date" of April 1st, 1935. (The throwing pose was released in 1935.)

Graded GD 2 (MK) by PSA, one of just two copies of this rookie card validated by that company. Understandably, collectors clamor to find this collectible in any condition, and few exist in presentable stead. (Zeenuts were primarily targeted at kids, and are typically found in deplorable shape. To Zeenut collectors, a VG example without the coupon is considered a beauty.) The physical appearance and the intact coupon of the offered card make the piece a spectacular one. This copy exhibits a marvelous aesthetic, particularly within the context of its issue. Only moderate amounts of corner wear are evident. The obverse image is strong and perfectly focused, and a small crease at the left side essentially blends into the photo's backdrop without impacting the player image. The blank reverse concedes a pencil notation (accounting for the grading qualifier) that has been almost entirely erased. A potential prize capture for the advanced DiMaggio specialist, in Good condition, qualified as noted.