Joe DiMaggio: It Wasn't the Yankee Great's Consecutive Game Hitting Streak

The New York Yankees had finished second for three consecutive seasons. In 1936, a lanky rookie outfielder named Joe DiMaggio joined the team, and the Yankees returned to what they and their fans believe is their rightful place.

The Yankees won four consecutive World Championships to set a new major league team record.

After handily winning the 1936 pennant by 19 and one-half games, the Yankees faced the New York Giants in the World Series. It was not much of a contest as the Yankees, led by DiMaggio, beat the Giants in six games.

Giants' manager Bill Terry, who is the last National Leaguer to hit .400 (.401 in 1930), expressed DiMaggio's value to the team.

After the Yankees had won the final game, Terry volunteered his analysis of DiMaggio's importance.

"I'd like to add one thing. I've heard how one player made the difference in the Yankees this year, made a championship club out of a loser. I never understood how that could happen, until today. Now I know."

Everyone knows about Willie Mays' great catch of a Vic Wertz drive in the first game of the 1954 World Series, but DiMaggio made a similar catch in the same ball park in the second game of the 1936 World Series.

The Yankees were safely ahead, 18-4 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Hank Leiber hit a tremendous drive past the Eddie Grant monument in center field.

DiMaggio took off, appearing to move with almost no strain. He neared the  monument, extended his glove, and caught the ball at the foot of the steps that led to the players' clubhouse.

Without breaking stride, DiMaggio climbed a few steps, and then suddenly stopped and stood at attention.

Joe remembered that the public address announcer had asked everyone at the Polo Grounds to remain seated or standing in place until President Roosevelt had left the park. As Roosevelt's car slowly moved to the exit, the president waved to DiMaggio, who sheepishly waved back.

DiMaggio's teammates treated him with respect, affection, and in many cases, awe.

When he broke George Sisler's 41 game consecutive game hitting streak, the entire club left the dugout to congratulate him. The same thing occurred a few days later when he topped Wee Willie Keeler's all-time mark of hitting in 44 consecutive games.

That was important to DiMaggio, who was asked what he remembered when he broke the two records. "That's what I remember, the way the guys on the club acted."

From 1936 until he retired after the 1951 season, DiMaggio appeared in 10 World Series. The Yankees won nine of them.

Near the end of his career, DiMaggio was asked what was his greatest thrill. It wasn't his 56 game consecutive game hitting streak.

As a youngster, DiMaggio had dreamed of playing in the World Series. Despite have a great World Series in 1936, he didn't hit a home run.

The Yankees and Giants met again in the 1937 Series. The Yankees won again, this time in five games.

In the third inning of the fifth game, with the Yankees ahead, 1-0, DiMaggio stepped into the batters' box to face Cliff Melton. Joe's father, Papa DiMaggio, was in the stands.

DiMaggio blasted a Melton curve ball just inside the left field foul pole for the first of his eight World Series home runs.

"I hit a curve ball off Melton. At the Stadium, that one would landed in the upper tier. I could tell the way I felt when I hit it."

After losing the World Series to the Yankees for the second time, a gracious Bill Terry told writers that he had never seen a better team than the 1937 New York Yankees.

What a difference DiMaggio made.

References:

Smith, R. (1950, Aug 13). After all these years joe DiMaggio is still shy and lonely guy. Daily Boston Globe (1928-1960), pp. C44. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/843330050?accountid=46260

Cheers dimaggio homer: Father rewarded for trip from coast by son's big blow. (1937, Oct 11). New York Times (1923-Current File), pp. 14. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/101992434?accountid=46260