Joe DiMaggio spent thirteen years playing major league baseball and has been immortalized and celebrated for more than seventy years. The mystery and beauty of Joe’s story—coming from a family of Italian immigrants, rocking the baseball world, sacrificing to serve his country, being part of one of America’s greatest love stories, and living life honorably and with powerful grace—make the Joe DiMaggio legacy one of the most inspiring and enduring in American history.
As a living legend, Joe was sought after by presidents, world leaders, other celebrities and the media. He was commemorated as the grand marshal of parades and was often the featured speaker at prestigious events. Friend and author Morris Engelberg wrote that “even in his 80s, silver-haired and bent with arthritis, he was still the heroic Yankee Clipper, one of the greatest of all time. People who had not yet been born when he retired stood and cheered when he was introduced” (Morris, p. 69).
And since Joe’s death, his legacy continues to inspire generations to strive for personal best and to believe in something bigger than themselves. From his status as an American Icon to his cherished and unparalleled 56-game hitting streak to his legacy in the work at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Joe embodies all that the world expects from a legend, and his name, story and impact on the world will endure for generations to come.
There is one America and one DiMaggio. There will never be another.
References:
Book: DiMaggio: Setting the Record Straight, Morris Engelberg & Marv Schneider