Joe DiMaggio Biography

Birth Date & Place

Joe DiMaggio was born on November 25, 1914, in Martinez, California. His family moved to San Francisco when he was on a year old. His father thought he could earn more in California than in their home town in North Western Sicily.

Family

DiMaggio was born to Giuseppe and Rosalia DiMaggio. Joe was the 8th of 9 children. He had 4 brothers and 4 sisters. Joe's father wanted all of his sons to become fisherman, but Joe did everything he could to not become one.

Childhood

Growing up Joe was always the best ball player. The other kids looked up to him. Joe never played for fun. He played to win. Joe and his friends all smoked and liked to cause trouble. Joe was always afraid of imperfection. 

Hobbies, Interests, Activities

His hobbies were baseball and cards. Joe played cards so he could win money to buy tobacco. He played baseball because he was good, and he loved to win.

Career 

Joe played professional baseball for 13 seasons. He played Center Field for the New York Yankees from 1936-1942 and 1946-1951. His Major League Baseball debut was on May 3, 1936, and his last    MLB appearance was on September 30, 1951, both with the Yankees.

Anecdotes

Joe DiMaggio holds the record for longest hitting streak, set at a 56 game hitting streak. This happened between May 15 and July 16, 1941. That record still stands.
In 1934, Joe tire ligaments in his left knee while stepping out of a jitney, while going to his sisters house for dinner. That accident almost ended his career.

Reason For Fame

Joe is famous for his many accomplishments in Major League Baseball. His career statistics includes .329 batting average, 2214 hits, 361 home runs, and 1537 runs batted in. When he retired he was ranked fifth in career home runs and sixth in career slugging percentage, which was .579. He was entered in the baseball hall of fame in 1955, and voted baseballs greatest living player in 1969.

Later Life

Joe married Marilyn Monroe on January 14, 1954 at the San Francisco City Hall. She filed for divorce 274 days after the wedding. Joe joined the army air forces on February 17, 1943, but was discharged for medical reasons in September of the same year.

Death

DiMaggio died in Hollywood, Florida on March 8, 1999 at 84 years old. He was admitted to Memorial Regional Hospital on October 12, 1998, for lung cancer surgery. He was there for 99 days. He went back to his home on Florida on January 19, 1999.