Joe DiMaggio was the son of an Italian fisherman who later became a star for the New York Yankees professional baseball team. He played from 1936 until 1951. DiMaggio was equally proficient as a fielder and a hitter, earning the dual nicknames of the "Yankee Clipper" and "Jolting Joe." DiMaggio succeeded Babe Ruth as the leader of the Yankees, and led them to nine World Series titles. Despite his success playing baseball, DiMaggio had less success in his personal life, as each of his two marriages lasted less than three years.
The Early Years
DiMaggio quit school at the age of 14, and by the age of 17 he became a minor league baseball player. His brothers, Vincent and Dominic, also played baseball, and later became Major League Baseball players. DiMaggio was a consistent hitter as a minor league player, getting a hit in 61 straight games in 1933. In 1936, DiMaggio's minor league contract was purchased by the New York Yankees. He was successful immediately, achieving a batting average of .323 as a rookie. He was also part of a world championship Yankee team as a rookie, and hit .346 against the New York Giants in the World Series.
The Yankee Years
Despite missing three seasons from 1943 through 1945 because of military service, DiMaggio compiled impressive all around statistics during his career. According to Biography.com, his excellence in the field appeared so effortless that some fans thought him to be lazy. In 1947, DiMaggio committed only one error in 141 games. Because of his skills and leadership, he was voted the American League's Most Valuable Player three times. As a hitter, he compiled a .325 lifetime average. Major League power hitters frequently strike out over 100 times in a given season. According to pbs.org, DiMaggio struck out only 369 times in 6,821 times at the plate. In 1941, while the United States was involved in World War II, Dimaggio hit safely in 56 straight games. His 56 game hitting streak is still a Major League record, and the next longest hitting streak is only 44 straight games. DiMaggio retired from Major League Baseball in 1951, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1954.
Married Life
According to PBS.org, despite DiMaggio's fame as a Major League Baseball player, he was awkward and shy in public. Despite his shyness, his two marriages were to Hollywood actresses who frequently appeared in public. While he was still an active player, he married Dorothy Arnold, who starred with Universal Pictures. The couple had one child, and the marriage lasted only three years. In 1954, DiMaggio married movie star Marilyn Monroe. Although the marriage lasted less than a year, they remained friends until Monroe passed away in 1962.
The Later Years
After his retirement from baseball, DiMaggio briefly spent time as a broadcaster, and later coached with The Oakland Athletics. He also continued to make money from television commercials and various public appearances. In 1969, he was voted by sports writers as baseball's greatest living player. DiMaggio passed away in 1999.
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