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Yankees fans, baseball fans and the rest of America mourned the loss of Joe DiMaggio Monday, who died at his home in Hollywood, Fla. at the age of 84. Here's a brief look at "Joltin' Joe's" amazing baseball career.
- Born Joseph Paul DiMaggio Jr. on Nov. 25, 1914 in Martinez, Calif., the second youngest of nine children.
- Began playing minor league baseball as a shortstop in San Francisco at age 17.
- In 1933, he hit safely in 61 straight games for the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League.
- He spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the New York Yankees (1936-51), but missed three seasons (1943-45) during the peak of his career to serve in WWII.
- As a rookie with the N.Y. Yankees in 1936, DiMaggio hit .323, slugged 29 home runs and tied for the league lead in triples (15) and outfield assists (22).
- In 1941 he set an all-time major league record by getting a hit in 56 consecutive games.
- During his 56-game hit streak, he batted .408 and had 91 hits in 223 at bats.
- Won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1939, 1941 and 1947.
- At Yankee Stadium over his career he hit .315 and hit a home run once every 22.7 at bats. On the road he hit .333 and hit one home run every 16.2 at bats.
- He struck out just 369 times in 6,821 career at bats.
- His lifetime batting average was .325. He won batting titles in 1939 and 1940.
- His lifetime home run total was 361. He won home run titles in 1937 and 1948.
- His lifetime runs-batted-in total was 1,537 (118 per-year average). He won RBI titles in 1941 and 1948.
- Led the Yankees to 10 American League pennants and nine World Series championships.
- Had a .336 lifetime batting average and had 30 RBI in 51 World Series games.
- Was not elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame until his second year of eligibility, 1955.
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