Joe DiMaggio Debut

Lore & Background

DiMaggio was a three-time American League Most Valuable Player Award winner and an All-Star in each of his 13 seasons. During his tenure with the Yankees, the club won ten American League pennants and nine World Series championships. His nine career World Series rings put him second only to his fellow Yankee Yogi Berra, who won 10. At the time of his retirement after the 1951 season, he ranked fifth in career home runs (361) and sixth in career slugging percentage (.579). He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955 and was voted the sport's greatest living player in a poll taken during baseball's centennial year of 1969.

Reader's Guide

DiMaggio made his Major League debut on May 3, 1936. He set a franchise record for rookies in 1936 by hitting 29 home runs in 138 games. In 1937, he led the majors with 46 home runs, 151 runs scored, 167 runs batted in and 418 total bases. He won his first career batting title and MVP award in 1939. DiMaggio won his third MVP award in 1947. On February 7, 1949, he became the first baseball player to break $100,000 in earnings. He announced his retirement on December 11, 1951.

Did You Know?

• DiMaggio hit safely in 61 consecutive games in the Pacific Coast League in 1933, a minor league record.
• He missed the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons due to military service during World War II.
• DiMaggio was married to Marilyn Monroe.