Joe DiMaggio Harassed the Red Sox at the Start and Finish of His 1949 Season

Joe DiMaggio missed the first 65 games of the 1949 season because of an inflamed right heel. He made his season's debut on June 28 at Fenway Park.

In his first at-bat in the second inning, DiMaggio lined a solid single into left-center field off left-hander Mickey McDermott.  After Yogi Berra and Billy Johnson struck out, Johnny Lindell walked and Hank Bauer hit a home run to stake the New York Yankees to a three-run lead.

In the third inning, Dimaggio batted with two outs and Phil Rizzuto on first.  DiMaggio sent a drive into the screen above the Green Monster for a 5-0 Yankees' lead.

In the ninth inning, with score 5-4, Lou Stringer was on second base with two outs.  Ted Williams was the batter, facing left-handed relief pitcher Joe Page.

Williams made excellent contact, sending a drive to deep center field.  DiMaggio raced back, glove high and made the catch.

Entering the final weekend of the season, the Yankees trailed the Red Sox by one game.  The Yankees had to sweep the two games at Yankee Stadium to win the Pennant.

In the Saturday game, the Red Sox took a 4-0 lead into the fourth inning. DiMaggio and Bauer went to work once again.

DiMaggio led off with a double, Bauer singled him home and Bauer later scored on a Jerry Coleman fly ball.

The next inning saw the Yankees tie the game.

Phil Rizzuto, Tommy Henrich and Yogi Berra hit consecutive singles for one run.  DiMaggio singled to load the bases, after which Billy Johnson grounded into a double play that scored Henrich with the tying run.

Lindell's home run in the eighth inning put the Yankees ahead and Joe Page, who took over for starter Allie Reynolds in the third inning, pitched a scoreless ninth for the win.

DiMaggio had two key hits in the game, which was what expected of him.

On Sunday, DiMaggio's only hit was a harmless triple in the first inning.  In the eighth inning, he hit into a double play, but the Yankees loaded the bases for Jerry Coleman who doubled for three runs.

The Yankees withstood a three-run Red Sox ninth inning to win the pennant.

In 1949, DiMaggio appeared in only 76 games, batting .346/.459/.596 with a 1.055 OPS.

The Pennant and World Championship in 1949 was the first of three for DiMaggio, who retired after the 1951 season.

In his career, DiMaggio appeared in 10 World Series  The Yankees won nine of them.