Joe DiMaggio

Verified Timeline

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. His brothers Vince and Dom also were major league center fielders. DiMaggio is also widely known for his marriage and lifelong devotion to Marilyn Monroe.

In Their Own Story

On February 7, 1949, DiMaggio signed a contract worth $100,000 ($70,000 plus bonuses), becoming the first baseball player to break $100,000 in earnings. After a poor 1951 season and various injuries, he announced his retirement at age 37 on December 11, 1951. He told the Sporting News: "I feel like I have reached the stage where I can no longer produce for my club, my manager, and my teammates. I had a poor year, but even if I had hit .350, this would have been my last year. I was full of aches and pains and it had become a chore for me to play. When baseball is no longer fun, it's no longer a game, and so, I've played my last game." DiMaggio might have had better power-hitting statistics had his home park not been Yankee Stadium, where left-center field went as far back as 457 feet. Bill James calculated that DiMaggio lost more home runs due to his home park than any other player in history. He hit 148 home runs in 3,360 at-bats at home versus 213 home runs in 3,461 at-bats on the road.

Reader's Guide

On February 7, 1949, DiMaggio signed a contract worth $100,000 ($70,000 plus bonuses), and became the first baseball player to break $100,000 in earnings. He 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 RBIs and 418 total bases. He won his first batting title and MVP award in 1939. He won his third MVP award in 1947. After a poor 1951 season and various injuries, 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 PCL record.
• He missed the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons due to military service during World War II.
• DiMaggio stole home five times in his career.
• He was pictured with his son on the cover of the inaugural issue of SPORT magazine in September 1946.