It puzzles me as well. I think there's a Yankee-favortism and more specifically a world series winner-Yankee-favortism in effect.
1941 was a classic year, final year before WWII, Ted Williams remains last hitter to hit 0.400 or higher and slashed .406/.553/.735 (10.6 WAR). DiMaggio established a seemingly unbreakable record 56-game hit streak and slashed .357/.440/.643 (9.1 WAR) and beat out Ted for MVP.
My 1941 Play Ball Ted Williams PSA 5 is valued at VCP avg of $878
My 1941 Play Ball Joe DiMaggio PSA 5 is valued at VCP avg of $2389! Nearly 3 times the value!
Both cards are several years after their rookie cards (Williams 1939, DiMaggio 1936).
Ted Williams 1939 Play Ball RC at PSA 7 is valued at $7,000 and at PSA 9 is valued at $180,000.
Joe DiMaggio 1936 World Wide Gum RC at PSA 7 (highest available grade) is valued at $52,000, leading me to estimate, that a grade PSA 8/9 would be valued astronomically higher than the 7, possibly $300K, $500K? Who knows?
DiMaggio won 9 world series titles in 13 seasons. Teddy won 0. DiMaggio slashed .271/.338/.422 in 51 postseason games. Williams slashed .200/.333/.200 in 7 postseason games. DiMaggio played a more premium position at centerfield, while Williams played left field. Both players left the game and sacrificed the prime of their careers to serve their country in time of war.
DiMaggio final career slash line: .325/.398/.579
Williams final career slash line: .344/.482/.634 (.482 OBP is an all-time career record)
It seems to me, without analyzing any additional character references, media perception, etc., DiMaggio cards are more valuable due to the fact that:
1. DiMaggio was a part of 9 world championship Yankee teams while Williams won 0 with the BoSox.
2. DiMaggio bridged the gap of legendary Yankee outfielders, from Babe Ruth to Mickey Mantle.
3. DiMaggio's postseason success and premium position fielding and baserunning left fans/writers with the perception he was a better all-around PLAYER/WINNER despite Teddy was clearly a better HITTER.
Personally, you give me a draft pick choice, I choose Teddy ball game all day long. Imagine what Ted could've done if he were a Yankee and if he had 51 post season games to perform on those Yankees teams?! Although advanced metrics didn't exist at the time, Teddy is 14th all-time with 123.1 BWAR, whereas DiMaggio is 68th with 78.1 BWAR as a point of reference.
Regarding Stan The Man, I really dont know why his cards don't command more value. He's 11th all-time with 128.2 BWAR. He served 1945 in the war (maybe that one year wasn't enough sacrifice compared to others?). He still holds numerous MLB records to this day. His 1948 Bowman RC sold for an amazing $360,000 at PSA 10, but his PSA 5 (what I own) is a very modest $637 avg value. I have no idea why one of the 11 greatest players of all-time is so affordable in mid-grade rookie cards
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