Joe DiMaggio

Joseph Paul DiMaggio, born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio (November 25, 1914 – March 8, 1999), was an American baseball player.

"The Yankee Clipper"

Touted by sportswriters as Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Shoeless Joe Jackson rolled into one, 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 championship teams in his first 4 full seasons. In total, he led the Yankees to 9 titles in 13 years.

Related Topics:
Babe Ruth - Ty Cobb - Shoeless Joe Jackson - May 3 - 1936 - Lou Gehrig - World Series - 1932

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On February 7, 1949, DiMaggio became the first baseball player to sign for $100,000 ($70,000 + bonuses). He was still regarded as the game's best player, but injuries got to the point where he couldn't take a step without pain. A sub-par 1951 season and a brutal scouting report by the Brooklyn Dodgers that was turned over to the NL champion New York Giants and leaked to the press lead him to announce his retirement on December 11, 1951. Joe was not elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame until his third try in 1955. He amassed 361 home runs, averaged 118 runs batted in (RBI) annually, compiled a .325 lifetime batting average, and struck out only 369 times. He won two batting crowns and three MVP awards.

Related Topics:
February 7 - 1949 - Brooklyn Dodgers - New York Giants - December 11 - 1951 - Baseball Hall of Fame - 1955 - Home runs - Runs batted in - Batting average - Struck out - MVP

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He would have had even better statistics had his home park not been Yankee Stadium. As it was "The House That (Babe) Ruth Built," it was designed to accommodate his left-handed power. For right-handed power hitters, it was a nightmare: Mickey Mantle recalled that he and Whitey Ford used to count the blasts DiMaggio hit that would have landed in the stands anywhere else, but, at the Stadium, were long outs. Left-center field went as far back as 457ft, compared to ballparks today where left center rarely reachs 380ft.

Related Topics:
Mickey Mantle - Whitey Ford

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DiMaggio was given the nickname Yankee Clipper by broadcaster Arch McDonald.

Related Topics:
Yankee Clipper - Arch McDonald

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