A Special Tribute to Joseph Paul DiMaggio
The name Joe DiMaggio sparks memories of remarkable style, immense talent
and unbreakable baseball records. The son of Italian immigrants, DiMaggio
turned pro when he was 21, and during his first year he set the tone for
what was to be a spectacular career. That season, he became the first rookie
to play in an All-Star game and was featured on the cover of Time magazine.
Nicknamed the "Yankee Clipper," by radio announcer Arch McDonald
for his unequaled power, range and style, DiMaggio spent 13 years with the
New York Yankees, leading the team to 10 American League pennants and nine
World Series championships. DiMaggio's prowess at the plate also earned him
three Most Valuable Player awards. His 56-game hitting streak in 1941 — which
is still a major-league record — was
the inspiration for the nickname "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio" and a
hit recording by the same name produced by Les Brown and
his orchestra.
His astounding success on the diamond is reflected in other statistics. He had an impressive lifetime .325 batting average, 361 career home runs and 1,537 runs batted in. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955 and was voted baseball's "Greatest Living Player" by athletes and fans during baseball's centennial celebration in 1969.
Join us in celebrating this true American hero.
