Joe DiMaggio's Rookie New York Yankees Jersey & Pants

As 2005 came to a close, the baseball collectible world was abuzz with the news that Joe DiMaggio's rookie New York Yankees uniform from 1936 was to be auctioned off. Sotheby's expected the vintage baseball uniform to be sold for $600,000 or more.

Earlier in the year, a 1934 Babe Ruth game worn jersey was reported to have sold for $771,000 in a private sale.

Manufactured by Spalding, the uniform, consisting of a pinstriped jersey and pants, is in superb original condition. The original red chain stitching in the collar reads “Joe DiMaggio 9” and the stitching on the pants reads "Joe DiMaggio 9 36." DiMaggio wore this uniform during both the regular season and the World Series.

Sotheby's said the game worn, though altered, uniform was the only one of DiMaggio's pinstriped home jerseys known to exist from his rookie season, when he joined the New York Yankees, leading them to World Championships that year and the next three years.

Back in 1936, Yankee players typically were issued two home uniforms and two road uniforms to last the season. Following the season, the team's uniforms were recycled to be used in spring training the following year or sent to its minor league team.

l DiMaggio’s uniform was handed down to Charles (“Smoke”) Mason,a pitcher who signed with the Yankees in 1938. He played for the Yankees’farm team in Joplin, Missouri,where he wore the uniform for workouts.

The jersey has DiMaggio's name stitched into the jersey and pants and still bears the uniform No. 9. The "NY" emblem on the front was removed but the stitching around the "NY" emblem is visible, according to Sotheby's description.

The jersey was not sold at that December auction, however. Apparently the price was more than the market at the time could bear. The jersey remains in the possession of Mr. Mason.