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Joe DiMaggio Facts & Worksheets

Joe DiMaggio was a New York Yankees player who set a record with his 56 -game hitting streak in 1941 and won nine World Series titles

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Joe DiMaggio was a New York Yankees player who set a record with his 56 -game hitting streak in 1941 and won nine World Series titles during his 13-year career.

See the fact file below for more information on Joe DiMaggio or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Joe DiMaggio worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

CHILDHOOD AND EARLY CAREER

  • On November 25, 1914, Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio Jr., or Joseph Paul, was born in Martinez, California, United States.
  • He was the eighth child of Giuseppe and Rosalia DiMaggio.
  • Joe was called ‘lazy’ and ‘good for nothing’ by his father as he did not like to clean his father’s boat as the smell of dead fish made him nauseous. His father wanted his children to become fishermen. 
  • After watching his brother Vince play for the San Francisco Seals in 1930, Joe became fascinated with baseball and dropped out of high school at the age of 16.
  • Joe made his professional baseball debut on October 1, 1932, after a conversation between the team’s manager and his brother to allow him to join their team and fill in as a shortstop.
  • DiMaggio was also an exceptional center fielder and base runner.
  • He led the Seals during his first full season with the team by going on a 61-game hitting streak. This included batting .340 with 28 home runs in the first season, .341, and .398 in the following.
  • Joe suffered a knee injury involving torn ligaments at the peak of his rookie career in 1934, which halted his baseball activities and put his career in jeopardy.

MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER

  • Joe was acquired by the New York Yankees on November 21, 1934, at the age of 19, in exchange for five other players and cash considerations.
  • He officially made his debut as a Yankee on May 3, 1936.
  • In his rookie season, he batted .323 with 29 home runs and helped the Bronx Bombers win the World Series.
  • Joe, a rookie, made a huge impact on the field in front of over 43,0000 fans when he hit .346 against the Giants.
  • DiMaggio had 53 RBIs in August 1939, tying Hack Wilson’s 1930 record. He also managed to win his first career batting title and MVP award while leading the Yankees to their fourth World Series title in a row.
  • In 1947, Joe returned to play for the Yankees after his 3 years of military service during World War II. 
  • In the same year, Dimaggio won his third MVP award, leading the Yankees to another World Series victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers in seven games.
  • Joe began suffering from a heel injury in 1948, and by the end of the 1951 season, he was forced to retire from baseball.
  • Joe, the center fielder, played his last game on October 10, 1951 after his 13 years of career as a Yankee. 
  • DiMaggio officially retired in December 1951 and was nominated for the Hall of Fame the following year.

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Joe earned the nicknames “Yankee Clipper”, “Joe D.”, and “Joltin’ Joe” because of his stellar career.
  • Joe DiMaggio received the American League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1939, 1941, and 1947. In 1969, he was voted the greatest living player in a poll of sportswriters.
  • DiMaggio received the Sports Legend Award at the 13th annual American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame Awards Dinner on April 13, 1998.
  • In 2013, he received the Baseball Hall of Fame Award along with the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award for his service in the United States Army Air Force during World War II.

LEGACY

  • Joe was sought after as a living legend by presidents, world leaders, other celebrities, and the media. He was honored as a parade grand marshal and was frequently the featured speaker at prestigious events.
  • The Yankees proceeded to win four consecutive World Series in DiMaggio’s first four seasons, making him the only athlete in North American professional sports history to do so. 
  • He became an American icon, representing style, dignity, decency, determination, and the ability to inspire others.
  • The 1941 season was regarded as DiMaggio’s best. His 56- game hitting streak will never be matched, and it captivated the nation.
  • During the streak, he hit 408 balls with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs.
  • On September 17, 1992, the Memorial Regional Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida renamed their facility the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, which Joe said meant more to him than being inducted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
  • On April 25, 1999, the fifth monument at the Yankee Stadium was dedicated to DiMaggio, and the West Side Highway was officially renamed The Joe DiMaggio Highway in his honor.

LATER LIFE

  • Joe was married to Marilyn Monroe, a rising actress at the time. However, their marriage failed and resulted in divorce.
  • Joe was diagnosed with stage two lung cancer and suffered several setbacks from lung infections and even fell into a coma.
  • When DiMaggio was released from the hospital on January 19, 1999 he was invited to throw out the opening pitch at the New York Yankees’ homecoming game on April 9.
  • After DiMaggio decided to return home from the hospital, a sign with the words “April 9 Yankee Stadium or Bust” was placed on his bed.
  • Joe DiMaggio died on March 8, 1999, at the age of 84, in Hollywood, Florida, United States.
  • Joe DiMaggio was still pining for his one true love, Marilyn Monroe, moments before his death. “I’ll finally get to see Marilyn”,  were his dying words, according to his lawyer.

Joe DiMaggio Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Joe DiMaggio across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching about Joe DiMaggio who was a New York Yankees player who set a record with his 56 -game hitting streak in 1941 and won nine World Series titles during his 13-year career.

  • Joe DiMaggio Worksheets
  • Joe DiMaggio Worksheets
  • Joe DiMaggio Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  • Joe DiMaggio Facts
  • Baseball Is…
  • New York Yankees
  • Player Data
  • Champion
  • Baseball in Wartime
  • Promoting the Sport
  • Words of Wisdom
  • Featuring Joe
  • Joltin’ Joe
  • Legends

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Joe DiMaggio’s Career start?

Joe DiMaggio’s debuted on October 1932 as a shortstop. He was such an exceptional center fielder and base runner that he led the Seals during the first full season.

What were Joe DiMaggio’s greatest achievements in baseball?

Joe DiMaggio received MVP in 1939, 1941, and 1947. In 1998 he was given the Sports Legend Award at the 13th American Sportscasters Association Hall of Fame Awards, then in 2013 he was added to the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Act of Valor Award for his service in the Air Force in WWII.

What was Joe DiMaggio’s best performance in baseball?

Joe DiMaggio’s 1941 season was considered his best. His 56-game hitting streak where he hit 408 balls with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs could never be matched.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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