Joe DiMaggio

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

Early Life

The 8th of 9 children, he was born in a two-room house in Martinez, California, east of San Francisco, to poor Sicilian immigrants; delivered by a midwife. His mother, Rosalia, named him "Giuseppe" for his father; "Paolo" was in honor of Saint Paul, his father's favorite saint. The family moved to San Francisco, California when Joe was a year old.

Related Topics:
Martinez, California - San Francisco - Sicilian - Midwife - Saint Paul - San Francisco, California

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Giuseppe was a fisherman, as were generations of DiMaggios before him. It was his dream to have all five of his sons fish the Bay with him. Joe would do anything to get out of cleaning his father's boat, as the smell of dead fish made him sick to his stomach. This earned him Giuseppe's ire, who called him "lazy" and "good for nothing." It was only after he became the sensation of the Pacific Coast League that the old man was finally won over.

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Joe was playing semi-pro ball when Vince, with the San Francisco Seals, talked his manager into letting his kid brother fill in at shortstop for the last three games of the 1932 season. Joe, making his debut on October 1, couldn't play shortstop, but he could hit. From May 28 - July 25, 1933, he hit in 61 consecutive games. "Baseball didn't really get into my blood until I knocked off that hitting streak," DiMaggio said. "Getting a daily hit became more important to me than eating, drinking or sleeping."

Related Topics:
San Francisco Seals - 1932 - October 1 - May 28 - July 25 - 1933

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However, in 1934, his career almost ended. Going to his sister's house for dinner, he tore the ligaments in his left knee when he stepped out of a jitney. The next day, he hit a homer, but had to walk around the bases! The Seals, hoping to sell Joe for as much as $100,000, a staggering sum in the Great Depression, now couldn't give him away; the Chicago Cubs turned down a no-risk tryout. Fortunately, scout Bill Essick pestered the New York Yankees to give the 19 year old another look. After Joe passed a test on his knee, the Yankees bought him on November 21 for $25,000 and 5 players, with the Seals keeping him another year. He batted .398 with 154 RBIs and 34 HRs and led the Seals to the 1935 PCL title.

Related Topics:
1934 - Jitney - Great Depression - Chicago Cubs - New York Yankees - November 21 - 1935

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