- He was born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio on November 25, 1914 in Martinez, CA. 8th of 9 children
- He went to Galileo High School in San Francisco
- Two of his brothers, Dom and Vince, also played in the Major Leagues
- He played his first professional game at age 17 in the tough Pacific Coast League
- In three full minor leagues seasons with San Francisco he batted .340, .341 and .398
- He was traded from San Francisco to the Yankees November 21, 1934 for 5 players and $25,000
- His rookie salary was $8500, but it went to $15,000 the next year
- Due to a spring injury, he didn’t make his Major League debut until May 3 of 1936
- He missed being teammates with Babe Ruth by two seasons; was Lou Gehrig’s teammate for 4.
- He wore number 9 as a rookie before switching to number 5.
- His rookie year one of the best in baseball history – .323/29/125 and led league with 15 triples
- 1936-1942: played every inning of every All-Star Game
- Had ten top-10 finishes in MVP voting in his 13 year career; won three times.
- Made All-Star team every season in the big leagues
- Drove in over 100 runs in his first seven season, and nine of first ten
- Reached career high of 46 homers in his sophomore year
- Led league in runs scored once, 151 in 151 games in 1937
- Had 206 hits in 138 games in his rookie season
- Stole only 30 bases in his career with a high of six in 1938
- Part of 1939 Yankees, one of greatest teams in baseball history
- Played for 10 pennant winners in 13 years and 9 world champions
- Hit eight World Series home runs, but none in Yankee Stadium
- Was in World Series in each of his first four seasons
- Hit 361 home runs for Yankees, and had 369 strikeouts
- Season high in strikeouts was 39 in his rookie year
- Career high in RBIs was 167 in 151 games, 1937
- Led league in homers twice, 46 in 1937 and 39 in 1948
- 56-game hitting streak in 1941 ran May 15-July 16
- During streak, batted .408 with 15 homers, 55 RBIs. Struck out only five times.
- 22 of the games in the streak were multi-hit games
- Had a hit in the All-Star Game during the streak (not counted as part of streak)
- Famous drive caught by Al Gionfriddo in 1947 WS would have been his only YS WS homer
- First $100,000 salary player
- Family established DiMaggio’s Restaurant on Fisherman’s Wharf in SF; run by brother Tom
- Lived at 2150 Beach Street in San Francisco for much of adult life
- Voted into Hall of Fame in 1955 – on his third try
- 5th all-time in home runs at time of retirement
- Married two actresses, Dorothy Arnold (had Joe Jr, a son), and Marilyn Monroe
- Hosted pre-game Yankees television show on WPIX after retirement
- Attended 46 of 47 Old Timers Days after retirement; missed one after pacemaker surgery
- Final at bat in a Yankee Old Timers Day – 1975
- Author of “Lucky to be a Yankee” , “Baseball for Everyone” and “The DiMaggio Albums”
- Portion of New York’s West Side Highway named in his honor
- Helped establish coffee makers as standard in American homes
- Coached for Oakland A’s, 1968-69
- Recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Three seasons in military service with Army Air Corps during World War II
- 1949 – returned from bone spur injury, 65 missed games, to hit 4 HRs in series at Fenway Park
- Joe DiMaggio Day in 1949 – “I want to thank the good Lord for making me a Yankee.”
- Dec. 11, 1951 retirement. “If I can’t do it right, I don’t want to play any longer.”
- Name including in Ernest Hemingway novel and Paul Simon lyric
- “Joe, Joe DiMaggio” recorded by Les Brown, released in 1941
- Voted “Greatest Living Player” in 1969 centennial of pro baseball poll
- Monument dedicated in Yankees’ Monument Park in 1999
- Was on Board of Directors of Baltimore Orioles during ownership of Edward Bennett Williams
- Died March 8, 1999 in Hollywood, FL, same facility as Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
A GREAT PLAYER FROM A GREAT CITY, SAN FRANCISCO. HE WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED-HE WAS PART OF, “THE CITY”.
When I think of Joe; I think of embodied greatness, grace and most of all….hope.
I met Mr. DiMaggio around 1980 at Eastland Mall in Michigan. He had come to sign autographs and my Mom bought me a ticket for the occasion. I stood in line in anticipation and then all of the sudden he strode in. The man was dressed impeccably and looked like movie star in that suit. The crowd, including me, gave him a rousing ovation and he rewarded us all with a smile. When I was my time for signing I placed the photo I bought for him to sign in front of him. When he was finished, I began to walk away, then stopped. I did this twice more and then finally got the gumption and stuck out my hand. I said, “nice to meet you Mr. DiMaggio”, and he shook my hand and smiled. I was about 16 or 17 at the time and will never forget meeting him..
Class, dignity, and grace – it doesn’t get any better than Joe D. I had the pleasure of meeting him in the early 80’s and shaking his hand. I’m not easily impressed with celebrity but in his presence, I felt like I was in the midst of true royalty. I’m also honored that half of my game room is filled with signed balls, photos, and other Joe D memorabilia. While I’m not old enough to have seen him play, I read and seen plenty said about him that indicates he was as good an all-around ballplayer as the game of baseball has ever seen.
pretty cool guy he did a lot of cool stuff and gave his name to a hospital, so it can’t really get better than that.
He seems awesome that’s coming from a 12 year old!
im doing a book report about him and his my favriot yankee even though im a mets fan
He is one of the best baseball players to ever live because he had a 56 consecutive game record. Pete Rose came in and could not come close to the record standing at a 36 consecutive game hitting record. And I love him because he is also my cousin
and my Name is JOE DIMAGGIO!! and I am also 12
Sorry pete rose was 44 not 36 my bad Need to study up more
Having read this I thought it was really informative.
I appreciate you spending some time and effort to put this informative article
together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both
reading and posting comments. But so what, it
was still worth it!
What an inspirational man. Growing up in the u.k , I’ve always admired Joe, and his work. He’s established global stardom- and used it for the greater good! I believe joes marriage to Marilyn Monroe is one of the greatest love stories of all time, and Joe sending roses to her crypt 3 times a week, shows he was just a lovely guy who adored Marilyn till his final days.
I have a baseball card of him 1935-with don o the San Francisco seals
I was at the airport awaiting my wife at the International arrivals. I saw Joe DiMaggio come by and he strode quite gracefully. I didn’t get the nerve to make any contact with him. As a lifetime Yankee fan it was regretful that I never spoke to him.
What year did Joe De Magio play in an old timers game in Anaheim, CA, with his two brothers? (I have a baseball with 16 signatures, including theirs)