DiMaggio, Joe (Joseph Paul DiMaggio) (dĭmăj`ēō', –mäj`ēō'), 1914–99, American baseball player, b. Martinez, Calif. One of the most charismatic of 20th-century sports figures, "Joltin' Joe" joined the New York Yankees of the American League in 1936 and quickly rose to stardom, winning the league's batting title with a .381 average in his fourth season. In a career interrupted by World War II, the center fielder became the celebrated epitome of grace and humility. In 1939, 1941, and 1947 he was the American League's Most Valuable Player, and in 1941 the "Yankee Clipper" established one of baseball's best-known records by hitting safely in 56 consecutive games. He retired in 1951 and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. His quiet heroics and brief marriage (1954) to Marilyn Monroe Monroe, Marilyn, 1926–62, American movie actress, b. Los Angeles as Norma Jean Baker. Raised in orphanages and first married at 14, Monroe became a world-famous sex symbol and, after her death, a Hollywood legend.
..... Click the link for more information. made him an icon of popular culture, although later biographical study has tended to deflate that status to some degree.

Bibliography

See biography by R. B. Cramer (2000).

DiMaggio, Joe

orig. Joseph Paul DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio.

(credit: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.)

(born Nov. 25, 1914, Martinez, Calif., U.S.—died March 8, 1999, Hollywood, Fla.) U.S. baseball star. DiMaggio joined the New York Yankees in 1936 and stayed with them until his retirement in 1951. Regarded as one of the greatest of all centre fielders, he played outfield with such languid grace that some inattentive fans thought he was lazy. Known as “Joltin' Joe” or “the Yankee Clipper,” he achieved a career batting average of .325. In 1941 he accomplished one of the most remarkable of all major league records with his feat of hitting safely in 56 consecutive games. DiMaggio helped the Yankees win 10 American League championships and 9 World Series titles. His brothers Vincent and Dominic also played in the major leagues. DiMaggio's second wife (for nine months in 1954) was Marilyn Monroe. After his retirement from baseball he served as an executive for two major-league teams and appeared in television commercials.

DiMaggio, (Joseph Paul) Joe (1914– ) baseball player; born in Martinez, Calif. One of baseball's most graceful players, he spent his entire career as an outfielder for the New York Yankees (1936–51), during which he was named the American League Most Valuable Player three times (1939, 1941, 1947). Although he hit 361 lifetime homeruns and posted a career batting average of .325, he is most remembered for hitting in a record-setting 56 consecutive games in 1941. His brothers, Vince and Dom DiMaggio, also played major league baseball. He was married briefly to actress Marilyn Monroe and appeared in many television commercials after his retirement from baseball. Nicknamed, "Joltin' Joe" and, "The Yankee Clipper," he was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1955.