56 Things To Know About Joe DiMaggio

  1. He was born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio on November 25, 1914 in Martinez, CA. 8th of 9 children
  2. He went to Galileo High School in San Francisco
  3. Two of his brothers, Dom and Vince, also played in the Major Leagues
  4. He played his first professional game at age 17 in the tough Pacific Coast League
  5. In three full minor leagues seasons with San Francisco he batted .340, .341 and .398
  6. He was traded from San Francisco to the Yankees November 21, 1934 for 5 players and $25,000
  7. His rookie salary was $8500, but it went to $15,000 the next year
  8. Due to a spring injury, he didn’t make his Major League debut until May 3 of 1936
  9. He missed being teammates with Babe Ruth by two seasons; was Lou Gehrig’s teammate for 4.
  10. He wore number 9 as a rookie before switching to number 5.
  11. His rookie year one of the best in baseball history – .323/29/125 and led league with 15 triples
  12. 1936-1942: played every inning of every All-Star Game
  13. Had ten top-10 finishes in MVP voting in his 13 year career; won three times.
  14. Made All-Star team every season in the big leagues
  15. Drove in over 100 runs in his first seven season, and nine of first ten
  16. Reached career high of 46 homers in his sophomore year
  17. Led league in runs scored once, 151 in 151 games in 1937
  18. Had 206 hits in 138 games in his rookie season
  19. Stole only 30 bases in his career with a high of six in 1938
  20. Part of 1939 Yankees, one of greatest teams in baseball history
  21. Played for 10 pennant winners in 13 years and 9 world champions
  22. Hit eight World Series home runs, but none in Yankee Stadium
  23. Was in World Series in each of his first four seasons
  24. Hit 361 home runs for Yankees, and had 369 strikeouts
  25. Season high in strikeouts was 39 in his rookie year
  26. Career high in RBIs was 167 in 151 games, 1937
  27. Led league in homers twice, 46 in 1937 and 39 in 1948
  28. 56-game hitting streak in 1941 ran May 15-July 16
  29. During streak, batted .408 with 15 homers, 55 RBIs. Struck out only five times.
  30. 22 of the games in the streak were multi-hit games
  31. Had a hit in the All-Star Game during the streak (not counted as part of streak)
  32. Famous drive caught by Al Gionfriddo in 1947 WS would have been his only YS WS homer
  33. First $100,000 salary player
  34. Family established DiMaggio’s Restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf in SF; run by brother Tom
  35. Lived at 2150 Beach Street in San Francisco for much of adult life
  36. Voted into Hall of Fame in 1955 – on his third try
  37. 5th all-time in home runs at time of retirement
  38. Married two actresses, Dorothy Arnold (had Joe Jr, a son), and Marilyn Monroe
  39. Hosted pre-game Yankees television show on WPIX after retirement
  40. Attended 46 of 47 Old Timers Days after retirement; missed one after pacemaker surgery
  41. Final at bat in a Yankee Old Timers Day – 1975
  42. Author of “Lucky to be a Yankee” , “Baseball for Everyone” and “The DiMaggio Albums”
  43. Portion of New York’s West Side Highway named in his honor
  44. Helped establish coffee makers as standard in American homes
  45. Coached for Oakland A’s, 1968-69
  46. Recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom
  47. Three seasons in military service with Army Air Corps during World War II
  48. 1949 – returned from bone spur injury, 65 missed games, to hit 4 HRs in series at Fenway Park
  49. Joe DiMaggio Day in 1949 – “I want to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee.”
  50. Dec. 11, 1951 retirement. “If I can’t do it right, I don’t want to play any longer.”
  51. Name including in Ernest Hemingway novel and Paul Simon lyric
  52. “Joe, Joe DiMaggio” recorded by Les Brown, released in 1941
  53. Voted “Greatest Living Player” in 1969 centennial of pro baseball poll
  54. Monument dedicated in Yankees’ Monument Park in 1999
  55. Was on Board of Directors of Baltimore Orioles during ownership of Edward Bennett Williams
  56. Died March 8, 1999 in Hollywood, FL, same facility as Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital

Comments

  1. David Arsanis says:

    A GREAT PLAYER FROM A GREAT CITY, SAN FRANCISCO. HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED-HE WAS PART OF, “THE CITY”.

  2. Greg Gordong says:

    When I think of Joe; I think of embodied greatness, grace and most of all….hope.

  3. David Dodson says:

    I met Mr. DiMaggio around 1980 at Eastland Mall in Michigan. He had come to sign autographs and my Mom bought me a ticket for the occasion. I stood in line in anticipation and then all of the sudden he strode in. The man was dressed impeccably and looked like movie star in that suit. The crowd, including me, gave him a rousing ovation and he rewarded us all with a smile. When I was my time for signing I placed the photo I bought for him to sign in front of him. When he was finished, I began to walk away, then stopped. I did this twice more and then finally got the gumption and stuck out my hand. I said, “nice to meet you Mr. DiMaggio”, and he shook my hand and smiled. I was about 16 or 17 at the time and will never forget meeting him..

  4. Mike Durand says:

    Class, dignity, and grace – it doesn’t get any better than Joe D. I had the pleasure of meeting him in the early 80’s and shaking his hand. I’m not easily impressed with celebrity but in his presence, I felt like I was in the midst of true royalty. I’m also honored that half of my game room is filled with signed balls, photos, and other Joe D memorabilia. While I’m not old enough to have seen him play, I read and seen plenty said about him that indicates he was as good an all-around ballplayer as the game of baseball has ever seen.

  5. pretty cool guy he did a lot of cool stuff and gave his name to a hospital, so it can’t really get better than that.

  6. He seems awesome that’s coming from a 12 year old!

  7. im doing a book report about him and his my favriot yankee even though im a mets fan

  8. He is one of the best baseball players to ever live because he had a 56 consecutive game record. Pete Rose came in and could not come close to the record standing at a 36 consecutive game hitting record. And I love him because he is also my cousin
    and my Name is JOE DIMAGGIO!! and I am also 12

  9. Sorry pete rose was 44 not 36 my bad Need to study up more

  10. Having read this I thought it was really informative.

    I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this informative article
    together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both
    reading and posting comments. But so what, it
    was still worth it!

  11. Gemma riding says:

    What an inspirational man. Growing up in the u.k , I’ve always admired Joe, and his work. He’s established global stardom- and used it for the greater good! I believe joes marriage to Marilyn Monroe is one of the greatest love stories of all time, and Joe sending roses to her crypt 3 times a week, shows he was just a lovely guy who adored Marilyn till his final days.

  12. I have a baseball card of him 1935-with don o the San Francisco seals

  13. Ftank Onolfi says:

    I was at the airport awaiting my wife at the International arrivals. I saw Joe DiMaggio come by and he strode quite gracefully. I didn’t get the nerve to make any contact with him. As a lifetime Yankee fan it was regretful that I never spoke to him.

  14. Tom Korsvall says:

    What year did Joe De Magio play in an old timers game in Anaheim, CA, with his two brothers? (I have a baseball with 16 signatures, including theirs)

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