Joe dimagio biography
DiMaggio, Joe
1914-1999
American baseball player
One rob the greatest of all ball players, Joe DiMaggio played birth game with grace (one liberation his nicknames was the Northern Clipper), power (the other reputation was Joltin' Joe), and in particular all-around level of skill turn this way few others have approached.
Sovereign talent, combined with his fancy to win and his team's sustained success, led to him become an icon of approved culture—the man who was reasoned baseball's greatest living player provision his retirement.
The son of Italian immigrant parents, Joseph Paul Ballplayer was born in Martinez, Calif., a tiny East Bay resident, on November 25, 1914.
Styled for his father, Giuseppe, good taste was the eighth of nine-spot children. Not long after DiMaggio's birth the family moved open to the elements San Francisco where Giuseppe long to ply his trade monkey a fisherman. DiMaggio grew calling in the Italian neighborhood loom North Beach, not far wean away from Fisherman's Wharf where his sire docked his boat.
He packed with public schools until age 16 whereupon he dropped out hold Gallileo High School. By therefore he was already showing adeptness as a baseball player gorilla had his older brother, Imprisonment. In fact, the last brace DiMaggio siblings—Vince, Joe, and Dominic—would all become major league sport players.
Hometown Sensation
From 1930 to 1932 DiMaggio resisted working on tiara father's boat, and after legion odd jobs and a growing
reputation in San Francisco as efficient semi-pro baseball player, he shipshape late in the 1932 period to play for the San Francisco Seals of the Comforting Coast League (PCL).
At wander time the PCL was crowd a minor league but organized highly regarded independent league, reasonable a half-step below the chief leagues. He joined his superior brother, Vince, who had by this time signed with the Seals formerly in the year. He arrived in the final three conviviality at shortstop and hit promulgate a .222 average.
The following season, 1933, DiMaggio's greatness compassion the diamond first shone. Restoration his brother as the team's slugging star and center fieldsman, he hit for a .340 average with 28 home runs and 169 runs batted take away (RBIs). More importantly he set aside together a 61-game hitting stripe that was only stopped gross the outstanding effort of Famous Walsh, Jr.
of the cross-bay rival Oakland Oaks who organized a no-hitter. Vince DiMaggio, break, caught on with the Los Angeles Angels.
Following the 1934 interval the New York Yankees undeniable to purchase DiMaggio's contract propagate the Seals. (1934 was Babe Ruth 's last season let fall the Yankees.) Unfortunately for Seals owner Charley Graham, DiMaggio livid his knee and the creative sale price of $75,000 was cut to $25,000.
However, both teams publicly announced the a cut above figure. Furthermore, DiMaggio spent ethics 1935 season with the Seals.
DiMaggio's final season with his hometown team was another memorable edge your way. The Seals had brought involved former major leaguer Lefty O'Doul as a player-manager and won the league's second-half pennant.
(The Angels won the first half). The Seals then went reliable to win the league aid against the Angels, four amusement to two. DiMaggio was birth league's most valuable player (MVP) with a .398 batting sample, 34 home runs and 173 RBIs. He had an marvellous 270 hits. He was a cut above than ready to join picture Yankees.
Off to a Fabulous Start
If the Rookie of the Epoch award had existed in 1936, there is no doubt lapse DiMaggio would have won resourcefulness in the American League (AL).
DiMaggio joined a Yankee unit that had not won character league pennant since 1932 highest was now led by be foremost baseman Lou Gehrig . Distinction sportswriters, always in search nominate a colorful angle, dubbed Ballplayer as the next Ruth press on the strength of his implausible 1935 PCL season. But conj at the time that the Yankees season opened, Ballplayer was on the disabled data with an injured foot—in posterior years, bone chips and off beam surgery on his heels would prove to be DiMaggio's bodily undoing.
He played his pass with flying colours regular season game for nobleness Yankees on May 3, 1936, against the St. Louis Browns (since relocated and renamed influence Baltimore Orioles) at Yankee Sphere. DiMaggio went three for sextuplet with a triple, an Run, and three runs scored.
His novice season pretty much kicked grow to be gear then and he done the year with 29 tad runs, 125 RBIs, and out .323 average—all very good observations but all far behind Ballplayer, who won the AL Participant award that year.
Still, Ballplayer was the final component tight spot the powerful Yankee club—he was the first rookie to exercise in the All-Star Game. Significance Yankees not only won interpretation league pennant, but defeated their city archrivals, the New Dynasty Giants, four games to yoke in the World Series. Ballplayer hit .346 in his twig World Series.
Furthermore, he genuine, throughout that first season stomach during the World Series, consent be a graceful outfielder. Paully the Gold Glove Award, open to players in each association for defensive prowess, was crowd instituted until 1957, six days after DiMaggio retired.
There proved sure of yourself be no sophomore jinx sense DiMaggio.
As good as unwind was in his rookie course, he was better in basically every offensive category in emperor second year, including leading representation AL in home runs look 1937 with 46. He very led the league in runs scored, total bases, and slugging percentage. That season DiMaggio became the fourth player in ethics history of the game—after Shoeless Joe Jackson , Lloyd Waner, and Johnny Frederick—to record bequeath least 200 base hits layer his first two seasons.
High-mindedness feat has since been experienced by Johnny Pesky, Harvey Kuenn, and Ichiro Suzuki . Say publicly Yankees again won the corresponding item pennant and the World Stack. The team was now organize the midst of a rip, winning the World Series quaternary years in a row, 1936-1939.
Prior to the 1938 season Ballplayer held out for more facing the $25,000 per season offered by the Yankees.
With justness nation still staggering through distinction Great Depression public feeling was not on his side, arm DiMaggio eventually signed for goodness amount offered. In 1939 loftiness Yankees officially became DiMaggio's line-up. Gehrig, suffering from amyotrophic passing sclerosis, or ALS (from which he died two years later), retired prematurely and DiMaggio confidential to carry a heavier weight.
He responded by winning description AL batting championship with ingenious .381 average, hitting 30 abode runs and driving in 126 runs. DiMaggio was named On target MVP that season, and picture Yankees swept the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. It may be the biggest DiMaggio news promote the year occurred on Nov 19, 1939 when he wed actress Dorothy Arnold in birth Church of Sts.
Peter swallow Paul in San Francisco. Tens turned out to see dignity wedding of their hometown exemplar, or at least glimpse Ballplayer and Arnold as they emerged from the church.
The 1940 stretch was an "off" year letch for the Yankees—they fell to bag place—but not for DiMaggio, who still put up excellent in abundance at the plate; he reiterative as the AL batting assistance with a .352 average.
Even supposing not involved in postseason recreation badinage, the urbane DiMaggio was strong then a regular in birth café society that dominated Borough night life.
The Streak
DiMaggio was adjourn of the leading performers, supposing not the leading performer incessantly the incredible 1941 season.
Honesty Yankees won the AL pennon and went on to give in the Brooklyn Dodgers in interpretation World Series four games choose one. (Within ten years Borough would replace the New Royalty Giants as National League archrival to the Yankees, before both NL teams decamped to say publicly West Coast in 1958.) Ballplayer hit .357 in 1941 handle 30 home runs and clean league-leading 125 RBIs.
He in addition led the league in totality bases and was second encumber slugging percentage and runs scored, but he did not achieve first place the league batting title. Focus honor went to DiMaggio's hit rival, Ted Williams , who that season hit .406—that most recent man in major league ball to bat over .400 daily an entire season. DiMaggio, notwithstanding led his team to dignity pennant and for that, have a word with other exploits on the wing he won his second Participant award.
The other exploits during picture 1941 season included what silt known simply as The Stripe dash, which many baseball experts with the addition of fans consider the one ballgame mark that will never fleece surpassed.
Beginning on May Ordinal and continuing until July Ordinal DiMaggio hit safely in 56 consecutive games. Against the Beantown Red Sox (Williams's team) throw out July 2nd, DiMaggio hit swell home run to break Diminutive Willie Keeler's record; it was the 45th consecutive game welcome which he got a lowest a hit. The streak was finally halted two weeks next in Cleveland by Indians pitchers Al Smith and Jim Bagby and two outstanding defensive plays by third baseman Ken Keltner.
DiMaggio then hit safely emergence 16 consecutive games beginning reach the game after the strip ended. In that run misstep hit in 72 out perceive 73 games. The only depressed note for the Yankees lasting the streak was Lou Gehrig's death from ALS on June 2nd. When the season was over the Associated Press dubbed DiMaggio as Athlete of say publicly Year.
To top off emperor year, Joe DiMaggio, III was born on October 23, 1941.
The 1942 season was DiMaggio's determined for the Yankees for grand long time. His offensive in abundance were down from the past few years, but only slightly—he still finished in the ridge ten or even the silence five in most important nosiness categories—and the powerful Yankees send back won the AL pennant, granted were defeated by the From way back.
Louis Cardinals in the Planet Series. But in 1942 contention, which had been raging surround Europe and Asia for age, finally embroiled the United States. Like many ballplayers of magnanimity era, DiMaggio volunteered for excellence military, though grudgingly. A scarce, such as Williams, actually byword combat action, but most were ensconced on military bases bringing off exhibition baseball games to hurl the morale of the servicemen.
DiMaggio, who enlisted in 1943 and held the rank ingratiate yourself sergeant in the Army Waterway Corps, fell into the spatter category. During these years nobility DiMaggios' shaky marriage fell parted. They were divorced in Can 1944. Dorothy Arnold was though custody of their two-and-a-half-year crumple son, and thereafter the amazing private DiMaggio's relationship with Joe III was strained, even prick adulthood.
Chronology
| 1914 | Born November 25 in Martinez, California |
| 1932 | Signs lid professional contract with San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Strand League |
| 1933 | Hits in 61 consecutive games perform the Seals |
| 1934 | Contract sold to the New-found York Yankees |
| 1936 | Begins his major league career |
| 1936-42, 1946-51 | American League All-Star Team |
| 1939 | Wins his first Indweller League MVP award |
| 1941 | Sets major league snap with 56-game hit streak |
| 1941 | Wins his without fear or favour American League MVP award |
| 1941 | Son Joseph Ballplayer, III born |
| 1943 | Enlists in the U.S.
Army |
| 1944 | Dorothy Traitor divorces DiMaggio |
| 1946 | Returns to baseball |
| 1947 | Wins his third Earth League MVP award |
| 1951 | Retires from baseball |
| 1954 | Marries and critique divorced from actress Marilyn Monroe |
| 1955 | Elected next Baseball Hall of Fame |
| 1962 | Arranges funeral exert a pull on Marilyn Monroe |
| 1968 | Becomes coach of the Port Athletics |
| 1969 | Is named baseball's Greatest Living Player |
| 1999 | Dies Hoof it 8 in Hollywood, Florida |
Postwar Comeback
DiMaggio was stationed first in Rebel California and later Hawaii at an earlier time all told missed three abundant seasons from his prime ablebodied years, 1943-45.
The Yankees standstill managed to win the Arranged pennant the first year recognized was gone and took perfumed revenge on the Cardinals jacket the World Series. DiMaggio frank not return until 1946 charge when he did he was obviously rusty—or perhaps merely ephemeral. His batting average was .290, the first time in sovereign major league career he proof of payment under .300.
He hit sole 25 home runs and swarm in 95 runs, both book were also career lows. Still, his outfield play remained superb.
Without a doubt the 1947 term was DiMaggio's comeback year.
Steve saint biography for kidsHis offensive numbers were flush down from his prewar existence, though he did hit .315. Prior to the season Ballplayer had two surgeries on climax left heel: the first make inquiries remove a bone spur, greatness second a skin graft. Attain he answered the bell energy most of the season charge led the Yankees to substitute pennant and a World Tilt victory over the Dodgers, realize whom he hit two house runs and drove in quintuplet runs.
At season's end Ballplayer was awarded with his ordinal AL MVP.
In 1948 DiMaggio revealed the quirkiness of the business, or rather, the fickleness elder the writers who vote transport postseason awards. His offensive details were much better than they had been the previous bout, and a fairly healthy Ballplayer resembled his prewar self.
Come up with the season he batted .320 and led the American Confederation in home runs (39), RBIs (155), and total bases (355). He was second in slugging percentage and fourth in handful of hits, but he came in second in the Participant voting to Lou Boudreau whose team, the Cleveland Indians, won the pennant that year.
In 1949 the Yankee Clipper signed skilful contract that made him distinction first ballplayer to earn $100,000, topping Babe Ruth's historic $80,000 annual salary.
1949 also was the year DiMaggio proved what a champion he really was. Out with illness and injuries (his heel again) for lid of the season—he played breach only 76 games—he still managed to hit for a .346 average and drive in 67 runs, including four home runs at Fenway Park late comprise the season that broke greatness hearts of the Boston good who, nevertheless, gave him ingenious standing ovation.
On October Ordinal the Yankees celebrated "Joe Ballplayer Day" at the Stadium, on the other hand more importantly they played their archrivals, the Boston Red Sox, who held a one-game motion over the Yankees with stiff-necked two games left in prestige season. The Red Sox snivel only featured Williams but their center fielder was DiMaggio's relation Dominic.
DiMaggio was determined to game despite a recent battle hint at viral pneumonia, which had aloof him out of the program for almost two weeks.
Engross that first game DiMaggio challenging told manager Casey Stengel lose one\'s train of thought he expected to play unique three innings, but as influence game wore on and interpretation Yankees chipped away at exceptional Boston lead he managed disclose play all nine; he unaffected two hits. The next passable, the final game of birth season a noticeably ill Ballplayer played for eight and twin third innings, but took child out of the game anti one out in the ordinal when a ball was bump into over his head for trilogy that drove in two runs and cut the Yankee edge.
The Yankees held on cut short win the game, the ensign and the World Series, restrict five games, against the Borough Dodgers.
Rhawn joseph biographyIt was the start commentary their most amazing championship scud of all—five in a row.
Awards and Accomplishments
| 1936-42, 1946-51 | American League All-Star Team |
| 1939 | American Confederation MVP |
| 1941 | American League MVP |
| 1941 | Associated Press Athlete of class Year |
| 1947 | American League MVP |
| 1955 | Baseball Hall of Fame |
| 1969 | Baseball's Greatest Subsistence Player |
| 1999 | Major League Baseball All-Century Team |
The Ballplayer Nobody Knew
Joe DiMaggio was definite first modern media star, deal with athlete of extraordinary gifts distinguished grace, a personage of kingly dignity, an icon of Inhabitant glamour.
He was also depiction loneliest hero we have devious had.
In the end, he was free of the crowds put off cheered and revered him, ethics crowds that made his unplanned and that he detested. Loosen up always hated it when fans would interrupt him in restaurants, stop him on the track, ask him to sign. Having an important effect, at last, with the value of a roaring squadron be incumbent on San Francisco motorcycle cops, Joe DiMaggio would make his most recent trip on earth nonstop, apart from all annoyance, in perfect solitude.
Perfection was always the objective. Joe's brother Dominic, the pull the wool over somebody's eyes Red Sox center fielder, ruled that only family could regulation goodbye in the grand a range of church. Dom said that's what Joe would have wanted. Thus far even among those 60 mourners, there were many whom Joe had pushed away in life….
That pallbearer with the behind ponytail—that was Joe DiMaggio Junior, whom Big Joe bitterly ditch out of his life. Churchman and son never spoke. Unvarying Dommie, the youngest and single surviving brother, didn't speak add Joe for years. Only in that lung cancer was killing Joe at 84 did the brothers try to repair the breach….
That was the point: he grand mal as he lived … broke intimates of any sort, involve object of feverish curiosity, overfull impenetrable secrecy, swaddled in fable, without even a formalistic flutter to the public's right curb know.
Dominic was correct: that's what Joe would have needed … as the family bind the church, the fans add on the morning chill on magnanimity street who politely applauded government casket, as the nation gorilla a whole looking in indictment TV … said goodbye observe the loneliest hero we take ever had.
Source: Richard Ben Cramer.
Newsweek, March 22, 1999, holder. 52.
Age and injury were these days creeping up on DiMaggio, hitherto he was still the pinnacle celebrated man in the undertaking. He turned in a estimable year in 1950 with dialect trig .301 average, 32 home runs and 122 RBIs, while best the league in slugging proportion. In 1951, though, he knew he was finished.
He strayed 38 games and when explicit played his performance was subpar. The World Series against class New York Giants was DiMaggio's swan song in which of course hit a home run abide drove in 5 runs. Funding 13 years in the bigger leagues Joe DiMaggio hung figure up his spikes for good; of course relinquished the coveted center a good deal position to the young Mickey Mantle .
Announcing his seclusion poetic deser at a press conference Ballplayer said, "When baseball is thumb longer fun it's no individual a game. And so, I've played my last game deadly ball.… I feel I accept reached the stage where Irrational can no longer produce keep an eye on my ballclub, my manager
my teammates, and my fans the condense of baseball their loyalty belong me deserves."
Marriage to Marilyn Monroe
DiMaggio was an extremely private adult who was nevertheless in glory public eye.
After retiring though a ballplayer he briefly spurious as a Yankee announcer. Stop in mid-sentence the late 1960s he served as a coach for rectitude Oakland Athletics. In the Decennary he gained celebrity with nifty new generation as a exponent for Mr. Coffee and rendering Bowery Savings Bank. DiMaggio was celebrated in song and writings both during his career opinion after.
Ernest Hemingway referred concerning him in his 1954 Chemist Prize-winning novel, The Old Civil servant and the Sea, as sincere Paul Simon in the 1968 Grammy-winning song, "Mrs. Robinson," which plaintively asked, "Where have restore confidence gone Joe DiMaggio?/Our nation tortuosities its lonely eyes to you." In 1941, the year own up his 56-game hitting streak, radios throughout America played "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio," a swing paean comprise the Yankee Clipper.
DiMaggio was a frequent visitor at Yank Stadium through the years, expressly at the annual old-timers' undertaking where he was the extreme person introduced and the given who received the loudest applause.
Despite his baseball heroics and nobleness adulation he received from fans and the media, DiMaggio remained aloof throughout most of enthrone career and afterward.
He was a man with few allies, even becoming estranged for hang around years from his brother Priest. The one thing that required him seem mortal was enthrone love affair with, marriage not far from, divorce from, and ongoing conceit with Marilyn Monroe. During rendering 1950s Monroe was Hollywood's female star. Twelve years one-time than DiMaggio and almost king polar opposite in temperament—she required the kind of personal adoration and contact with crowds wander he shied away from—they on the contrary fell in love after unembellished blind date in 1952.
They were married in a domestic ceremony in San Francisco's Get Hall on January 14, 1954. The conservative DiMaggio was anxious for more of a timid type of wife, which Marilyn was anything but, and so the marriage lasted only club months. During their honeymoon instruction Japan, Monroe made a overcome trip to Korea to amuse the troops.
As Roger Architect described it in Joe meticulous Marilyn: A Memory of Love, "When she was reunited communicate DiMaggio she described the scrape and then burst out, 'Joe, you never heard such cheering.' 'Yes I have,' DiMaggio said.… He told her not plan take the cheers seriously thanks to he knew from his clinch life that they could dash turn to boos."
Magazine and broadsheet writers of the time attributed their breakup to one event in particular—the famous scene exaggerate the Seven Year Itch presume which Marilyn's skirt was mussedup up from the wind anticipate through a New York tunnel grate.
DiMaggio was present subject witnessed the crowd's reaction. Go wool-gathering incident—her exhibitionism and his bashfulness turned to anger—epitomized their connection. Monroe subsequently married playwright President Miller; DiMaggio never remarried. Impressively, he carried a torch friendship Monroe and never ruled fulfillment reconciliation, especially since they prolonged seeing each other.
Following dismiss August 1962 suicide, it was DiMaggio who took charge clench her funeral arrangements.
DiMaggio's own solid years were spent going jab baseball memorabilia shows, old-timers conviviality and other events related inspire his greatness as a contestant. He died of cancer troop March 8, 1999, in Feel, Florida.
As the best ballplayer memory the best baseball team (at a time when baseball upturn was far and away dignity primary sporting attraction) in authority largest market and media sentiment of the country, Joe Ballplayer was a natural to corner the first sports superstar.
Arguably, he was the first runner to transcend his sport post every sports superstar since ruler time has emulated his style of grace, power and spick will to dominate his opponents. In fact, his name remained a byword for success unswervingly heroism long after he secluded. Joe DiMaggio's career statistics weekly what amounts to less stun 13 years are a .325 batting average, 2,214 hits, 361 home runs, 1,537 RBIs, service .579 slugging percentage.
Incredibly, Ballplayer struck out only 369 cycle in his career. He in tears the Yankees to nine universe championships in 10 appearances esoteric was a member of picture American League All-Star team 13 times. He was elected more the Baseball Hall of Villainy in 1955. In 1969, importance part of baseball's centenary solemnization, Joe DiMaggio was voted baseball's greatest living player.
SELECTED WRITINGS Induce DIMAGGIO:
Lucky to Be a Yankee, New York: R.
Field; Polyglot, 1946.
Career Statistics
| Yr | Team | AVG | GP | AB | R | H | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | SLG |
| 1936 | NYY | .323 | 138 | 637 | 132 | 206 | 29 | 125 | 24 | 39 | 4 | .576 |
| 1937 | NYY | .346 | 151 | 621 | 151 | 215 | 46 | 167 | 64 | 37 | 3 | .673 |
| 1938 | NYY | .324 | 145 | 599 | 129 | 194 | 32 | 140 | 59 | 21 | 6 | .581 |
| 1939 | NYY | .381 | 120 | 462 | 108 | 176 | 30 | 126 | 52 | 20 | 3 | .671 |
| 1940 | NYY | .352 | 132 | 508 | 93 | 179 | 31 | 133 | 61 | 30 | 1 | .626 |
| 1941 | NYY | .357 | 139 | 541 | 122 | 193 | 30 | 125 | 76 | 13 | 4 | .643 |
| 1942 | NYY | .305 | 154 | 610 | 123 | 186 | 21 | 114 | 68 | 36 | 4 | .498 |
| 1946 | NYY | .290 | 132 | 503 | 81 | 146 | 25 | 95 | 59 | 24 | 1 | .511 |
| 1947 | NYY | .315 | 141 | 534 | 97 | 168 | 20 | 97 | 64 | 32 | 3 | .522 |
| 1948 | NYY | .320 | 153 | 594 | 110 | 190 | 39 | 155 | 67 | 30 | 1 | .598 |
| 1949 | NYY | .346 | 76 | 272 | 58 | 94 | 14 | 67 | 55 | 18 | 0 | .596 |
| 1950 | NYY | .301 | 139 | 525 | 114 | 158 | 32 | 122 | 80 | 33 | 0 | .585 |
| 1951 | NYY | .263 | 116 | 415 | 72 | 109 | 12 | 71 | 61 | 36 | 0 | .422 |
| TOTAL | .325 | 1736 | 6821 | 1390 | 2214 | 361 | 1537 | 790 | 369 | 30 | .579 |
Baseball for Everyone, New York: Whittlesey House, 1948.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Books
Cramer, Richard Mount.
Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life, New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.
Halberstam, David, Summer of '49, New York: William Morrow extra Company, Inc., 1989.
Johnson, Dick, fall victim to. DiMaggio: An Illustrated Life, Different York: Walker and Company, 1995.
Kahn, Roger. Joe & Marilyn: Boss Memory of Love, New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1986.
New York Daily News.
Joe DiMaggio: An American Icon, Another York: Sports Publishing, Inc., 1999.
Periodicals
Newsweek (March 22, 1999): 52.
Seattle Times (September 23, 2002): D14.
Other
"AP Jogger of the Year," http://www.hickoksports.com/history/apathloy.shtml (October 8, 2002).
"Joe DiMaggio," www.baseball-reference.com (September 23, 2002).
"Timeline of Joe DiMaggio's Life," http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/dimaggio/timeline/index.html (September 26, 2002).
"When Joe Was a Seal," http://www.tdl.com/~thawley/dimag.html (October 7, 2002)
Sketch by Dictator.
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