On July 2nd, 1941, Yankees outfielder Joe DiMaggio hit safely in his 45th consecutive game, breaking the former record held by Hall of Famer ‘Wee’ Willie Keeler. ‘The Yankee Clipper’ secured his place in history by cracking a three-run homer off of Boston Red Sox pitcher Dick Newsome. DiMaggio would eventually set the mark by getting a hit in 56 consecutive games… a record that still stands today.
DiMaggio rose to superstardom as a New York Yankee, and his celebrity transcended the game. From endorsing products like Mr. Coffee to marrying famed Hollywood starlet Marilyn Monroe, he became one of the most recognizable athletes of his era.
Joe DiMaggio would walk away from the game in 1951, but not before registering a lifetime batting average of .325, along with 361 home runs and 1,537 RBI. He won an astounding nine World Series with the Yankees, and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.
The Man known affectionately by his teammates as ‘Joe D’ passed away on March 8, 1999, at the age of 84.
The Sidearmer 
[…] of a moniker and more of a title, one that merits defending. Up until June, this is one title that Yankees minor leaguer Spencer Jones didn’t quite live up […]
LikeLike