Help with a Joe DiMaggio Cap
 

So I picked up a cool Joe DiMaggio lot and it included this cap. I love the cap but I've only been able to find 2 sales for these caps in 2001 and 2009:

https://lelands.com/bids/circa-1949-...r-baseball-cap
https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDe...O-BASEBALL-HAT

From the auction listings, I know that it was made by Irving L. Lewis & Sons but that's about it.

The lot that I bought includes a letter that the owner of the hat wrote to Joe DiMaggio to get the hat back in the day. So based on the lack of sales that I've found and the letter, I'm guessing it was some sort of promotional item.

Any info about it's history, how a kid got one of these in 1949 or any other information about it would be really appreciated. Thanks.

Very cool and condition looks amazing for a hat of that vintage...

Does yours have the inner-tagging that says "This Is A Genuine Joe DiMaggio Baseball Cap/M'F'd Exclusively By Irving L. Lewis & Son."

If so, would love to see an image of the inner sweat band. :)

Hi Mark, unfortunately it doesn't have the "Irving L Lewis" tag. Just the small tag with the hat size.

Do you have any info about how these were distributed back in the day?

I don't know how it was distributed, but would guess it was a mail-in premium of some sort. Perhaps a "prize" in exchange for coupon, box tops or wrapper redemption? If it was a short-lived or obscure promotion, that could certainly explain the apparent rarity.

Wish I could help with its origin, but bet there is someone here who will know.