Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak began on this day in 1941 with a humble RBI single against the Chicago White Sox. The Yankee Clipper wouldn’t be held hitless again until July 16. That record streak remains one of the most hallowed and admired marks in sports. Andre Ethier of the Los Angeles Dodgers made […]
Joe DiMaggio’s Hitting Streak, Game 2: A Homer, a Triple and Some Help
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 […]
Joe DiMaggio’s Hitting Streak, Game 3: Even the Outs Are Hit Hard
Reliving Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 3: May 17, 1941 New York scribes were hopeful that the previous day’s last-ditch rally was a portent of things to come for the Yankees. It was not be—not yet, as on May 17, more than 10,000 watched Chicago White Sox pitcher Johnny Rigney outduel Spud Chandler, 3-2. Joe […]
Joe DiMaggio’s Hitting Streak, Game 4: 3 Hits, and You Couldn’t Get the News!
Reliving Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 4: May 18, 1941 Today’s sports fans are numbed by the avenues of information available. The 6 o’clock news is stale two hours later. ESPN, Fox Sports, talk radio, the Internet, Twitter: For some, it’s a blur. For others an obsession. But 71 years ago, telephones were tethered to […]
Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 5: Joe’s Arm and Germany’s Bismarck Hot Topics
When Joe DiMaggio went to spring training in 1941, there was some concern that his throwing arm was giving him trouble, even affecting his batting. Columnists and beat writers in New York were quick to put the microscope on DiMaggio. In each of his previous three campaigns, Joltin’ Joe had been injured. They were […]
Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 6: DiMaggio Up Against Browns and Big Legends
First there was Tony Lazzeri, then Frankie Crosetti. In 1936, along came Joe DiMaggio. Three Italian-American ballplayers from North Beach in San Francisco. Crosetti and Lazzeri played against each other in the old Pacific Coast League – and had been teammates for several years in the Big Apple before DiMaggio entered their pin-striped world with […]
Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 7: 2-for-5 vs. Detroit, DiMaggio vs. Stadium
Reliving Joe DiMaggio’s Streak: Game 7, May 21, 1941 In a 5-4 victory over the visiting Detroit Tigers, Joe DiMaggio could have had a huge day—a huge in day in almost any ballpark, except Yankee Stadium. Two singles in five trips were enough to drive in the winning run and raise the Yankee Clipper’s average […]
Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 8: Bronx Bombers vs. Greenberg-Less Tigers
Joe DiMaggio’s Streak: Game 8, May 22, 1941 As 10,156 fans filed into Yankee Stadium on a crystal-clear spring day, two things were becoming evident. The Bronx Bombers were re-establishing their position, and the visiting Detroit Tigers were a mere shell of their former selves—thanks to losing Hall of Fame first baseman Hank Greenberg to […]
Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 9: Canyons of Stadium Denied Joe Hits
Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 9, May 23, 1941 This was going to be fun. It always was—and still is: the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. A weekend series in the Bronx, featuring Joe’s brother Dom and Teddy Ballgame. “Ted, DiMaggio? You two ever trade places?” asked the media. A photographer yells out: “Ted, Joe. […]
Joe DiMaggio’s Streak, Game 10: Watching DiMaggio Was a Routine of Life
Joe DiMaggio’s Streak: Game 10, May 24, 1941 Earl Lewis lived in the Upper West Side of New York City. Just a couple of blocks from the American Museum of Natural History at 79th Street and Central Park West, Lewis’ digs were simple, inexpensive and, besides, he figured something big was in his life. At […]