Joe DiMaggio

Born: 1914-11-25

Joseph Paul DiMaggio (born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio; November 25, 1914 – March 8, 1999), nicknamed "Joltin' Joe", "the Yankee Clipper", and "Joe D.", was an American baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. He is widely considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time and is best known for setting the record for the longest hitting streak in baseball (56 games from May 15 – July 16, 1941), which still stands today. He was a three-time American League (AL) Most Valuable Player Award winner and an All-Star in each of his 13 seasons. During his tenure with the Yankees, the club won ten American League pennants and nine World Series championships. His nine career World Series rings are second only to fellow Yankee Yogi Berra, who won ten. At the time of his retirement after the 1951 season, he ranked fifth in career home runs (361) and sixth in career slugging percentage (.579). He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955 and was voted the sport's greatest living player in a poll taken during baseball's centennial year of 1969. His brothers Vince (1912–1986) and Dom (1917–2009) were also major league center fielders. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces on February 17, 1943, rising to the rank of sergeant. He spent most of his military career playing for baseball teams and in exhibition games, and superiors gave him special privileges due to his prewar fame. Embarrassed by his lifestyle, he requested that he be given a combat assignment but was turned down. He was released on a medical discharge in September 1945, due to chronic stomach ulcers.  In January 1937, he met actress Dorothy Arnold on the set of Manhattan Merry-Go-Round. He announced their engagement on April 25, 1939, they married on November 19, 1939, and had a son, Joseph Paul DiMaggio Jr. (1941–1999). They divorced in 1944, while he was on leave from the Yankees during World War II. He and actress Marilyn Monroe eloped on January 14, 1954. The union was troubled from the start by his jealousy and controlling attitude; he was also physically abusive. After returning from New York City to Hollywood in October 1954, she filed for divorce after only nine months of marriage. He underwent therapy, stopped drinking alcohol, and expanded his interests beyond baseball. He reentered her life as her marriage to Arthur Miller was ending. On February 10, 1961, he secured her release from Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in Manhattan. She joined him in Florida where he was a batting coach for the Yankees. Their "just friends" claim did not stop remarriage rumors from flying. Bob Hope "dedicated" Best Song nominee "The Second Time Around" to them at the 33rd Academy Awards. According to Maury Allen's biography, he was told that DiMaggio left his employ on August 1, 1962, because he had decided to ask Monroe to remarry him. Four days later, on August 5, she was found dead in her Brentwood home. Devastated, he claimed her body and arranged for her funeral. He barred Hollywood's elite and members of the Kennedy family from attending, including President John F. Kennedy. He had a half-dozen red roses delivered to her crypt three times a week for 20 years. He refused to talk about her publicly or otherwise exploit their relationship. He never married again.


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The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes

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Angels in the Outfield

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Say Hey, Willie Mays!

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The Guru

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WWE: Undertaker 20-0 - The Streak

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Walk the dark and hallowed path of he who cannot be buried. The Apocalyptic Warrior who has...

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Marilyn Monroe: Beyond the Legend

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1986-04-19

Her story is well-known — the lonely child who yearned for affection and approval which she...

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Manhattan Merry-Go-Round

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Released: 1937-11-26

In this musical comedy, a crooked record producer uses his mob connections to force performers...

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The First of May

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Transformation: The Life and Legacy of Werner Erhard

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From two-time Emmy winner Robyn Symon comes an intriguing documentary which offers an intimate...

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Marilyn Monroe: Death of an Icon

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Documentary about Marilyn Monroe: 1962: America loses its blonde icon. Marilyn Monroe dies under...

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Dream Girl: The making of Marilyn Monroe

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How did Marilyn Monroe become one of the greatest sex symbols of all time? What drove a prudish...

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Marilyn Monroe: I Want to Be Loved

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Documentary about Marilyn Monroe.

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Mi Marilyn

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Released: 1975-01-02

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The House of Steinbrenner

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Love them or hate them, the Yankees remain the most glorified team in American sports history....

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Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?

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Released: 1997-10-19

Winner of the International Monitor Award for Best Documentary, this portrait celebrates one of...

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Marilyn Monroe: The Mortal Goddess

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1994-10-17

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Marilyn on Marilyn

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2001-01-01

Documentary on Marilyn’s life told by herself from the taped interviews she gave to Life...

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Super Stars of Sports: Baseball

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1991-01-01

Made in 1990, this compilation video highlights the "Best of the Best" in Baseball.

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MLB Vintage World Series Films: New York Yankees

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1969 New York Mets: The Official World Series Film

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The bad fortune of the Mets was forever changed when pitcher Tom Seaver debuted with New York in...

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What's My Line?

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First aired: 1950-02-02

Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while...

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The Ed Sullivan Show

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First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

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The Ed Sullivan Show

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First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

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