"The Yankee Clipper"

Touted by sportswriters as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Shoeless Joe Jackson combined; he made his debut on May 3, 1936, batting ahead of Lou Gehrig. The Yankees hadn't been to the World Series since 1932, but, thanks in large part to their sensational rookie, they won the next four. DiMaggio is the only athlete in North American pro sports history to be on four World Championship teams in his first 4 full seasons. In total, he led the Yankees to 9 titles in 13 years. DiMaggio was given the nickname "Yankee Clipper" by broadcaster Arch McDonald for the gracefulness of his play in the field.

In 1941, as America readied itself for war, DiMaggio began the greatest feat in American sports. His 56 game hitting streak captivated the country, and the nations eyes turned to him. As DiMaggio kept hitting safely, radio announcers kept an excited America informed, Bo jangles Robinson danced on the Yankee dugout roof for good luck and Les Brown recorded “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio…we want you on our side.”

During most of his years as an athlete, DiMaggio played without the benefit of television. His career was widely reported in the print media, and his games were broadcast on the radio, but he retired before television was a fixture in most American households. This made him famous but not familiar, and all that more appealing and intriguing. In his book, “Summer of ‘49”, David Halberstam wrote "It is no coincidence that DiMaggio's fame was so lasting, and that he was the last great hero of the radio era."