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Reliving Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 2: May 16, 1941
New York Yankees manager Joe McCarthy was in a foul mood. His team had slipped a game under .500 in embarrassing fashion. That 13-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox the day before had been lackluster.
He needed to light a fire under his Bronx Bombers. In what would eventually be a 6-5 victory over Chicago on this day, he got his spark from two very different sources.
Sure, Joe DiMaggio could be counted on—his 2-for-4 outing included a mammoth homer to left and a ninth-inning triple that set the stage for the come-from-behind win.
But the Yankees were also catching lightning in a bottle from journeyman catcher Buddy Rosar.
The Buffalo native was a crowd favorite, but would toil in obscurity as he played behind eventual Hall of Famer Bill Dickey. However, six weeks into the season, Rosar was white-hot and McCarthy knew a guy hitting .488 needed to stay in the lineup.
In beating the Sox before another disappointing crowd—only 5,616 at Yankee Stadium—Rosar went 2-for-3, threw a runner out at second, doubled and scored.
Dickey—despite hitting .372—was again on the bench, playing late for defensive purposes.
This flicker of heart by the Yanks was the dose of medicine the doctor ordered. Still 6 1/2 games behind Cleveland, New York would begin its long climb back to the top.
I have 81 years old and Joe DiMaggio is the greatest thing in all Baeball. In 1940 was my frst yer in love with baseall and DiMagggo made me a yankee fan for all my live. I hear de radio news every afternoon in 1941 to know aboiut de DiMaggio streak and my beloved Yankees. I have been baseball wriiter for 62 years and have my bets days two times I had the chance to talk to Joe DiMaggio. In 1949 I saw 20 days in a row the film The Straton Story juts toi see a real homer by DiMaggio in Comiskey Park and in one baseball convention at San Francisco, Joe old me the story of that homer. Another day I going to tell you the story . Tomas Morales .