So long Joltin' Joe DiMaggio
JOSEPH PAUL DIMAGGIO, also called JOLTIN' JOE, or
THE YANKEE CLIPPER (b. Nov. 25, 1914, Martinez, Calif., U.S.),
American professional baseball player, an outstanding hitter,
one of the greatest outfielders in the history of the game,
and perhaps the best all-round baseball player in the 1940s.
After minor league experience in San Francisco, DiMaggio was acquired by the New York Yankees. Between 1936 and 1951, when he retired, he helped them to win 10 American League championships (he was in military service when they won the pennant in 1943) and nine World Series titles.
In 1939 and 1940 DiMaggio led the American League in batting, with averages of .381 and .352 (his career mark was .325). One of the most remarkable major league records is his feat of hitting safely in 56 consecutive games (May 15-July 16, 1941). He played the outfield with such languid expertise that some ill-informed fans thought he was lazy. DiMaggio received the Most Valuable Player Award for the American League in 1939, 1941, and 1947 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.
His brothers Vincent Paul and Dominic Paul DiMaggio also were major league outfielders. Joe DiMaggio's second wife was the motion-picture actress Marilyn Monroe. After his retirement he became a public relations executive and television performer. Joe Dimaggio died on March 8th, 1999 due to complications from lung cancer. He will be missed, by many!
Relevant Links
Joe DiMaggio Story of Joe DiMaggio's baseball career.
Joltin Joe A good source for Dimaggio Information.
Joe Dimaggio, the Yankee Clipper Stats, photos, and more.
CNN-SI, Obituary The official obituary from the AP wire.
Yankees.com
Background provided by: Youth League Graphics