"The Yankee Clipper"


Joe Dimaggio was born On November 25, 1914 in Martinez, California, then a small fishing village 25 miles northeast of San Francisco. Came to North Beach, San Francisco's Little Italy, at the age of one.
Started his professional career in the Pacific Coast League with the San Francisco Seals. He had the longest consecutive professional hitting streak of 61 for the San Francisco Seals in 1933; Led the American League with 15 stolen bases in 1950. Had two nicknames, Joltin' Joe and Yankee Clipper. He also had a boat also named Yankee Clipper DiMaggio was voted Most Valuable Player in the American League in 1939, 1940 and 1947. He set a major-league record in 1941 by hitting safely in 56 straight games. Dimaggio was a superb center fielder and played his entire career (1936-51) with the New York Yankees, where he compiled a lifetime average of .325, and hit 361 home runs.
Joe DiMaggio and Joe Louis were the two most popular athletes of the 1930s and 1940s. Both liked to attend night clubs and cafes and both dressed well. Joe was the only requested guest of Japan's Emperor Akahito for a state dinner given by President Clinton.
Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio married on January 15, 1954 at San Francisco's City Hall. Previously, Joe was married to another actress Dorothy Arnold. They married on November 19, 1939. Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were married only 9 months. Joe DiMaggio married Marilyn Monroe at San Francisco's City Hall. They couldn't marry in a church they were both divorced. However, they had their wedding pictures taken on the steps of SS. Peter & Paul Church in the heart of North Beach.
Joe DiMaggio's parents emigrated from Sicily, The DiMaggio family opened a restaurant at Fisherman's Wharf in 1937 called Joe DiMaggio's Grotto There were three DiMaggio brothers and they all played in the Majors: Vincent, Dominic and Joseph. Joe DiMaggio's parents were forced to leave North Beach by the American government and were considered security risks during World War II. (This happened to many Italians because the American government feared they would be loyal to Il Duce Benito Mussolini.)
One of DiMaggio's most famous quotes was, "A ball player's got to be kept hungry to become a big leaguer. That's why no boy from a rich family ever made the big leagues."
(New York Times April, 30 1961).