Joe DiMaggio, New York Yankees
Image Source: Charles Conlon.
Image Subject: Known as "The Yankee Clipper," Joe DiMaggio is perhaps most famous for two things: hitting safely in 56 consecutive games in 1941 and marrying Marilyn Monroe.
Fun Fact: On May 15, 1941, DiMaggio began his record-breaking streak against the White Sox in Yankee Stadium with a single and an RBI. As the streak continued, fans across the nation took notice. DiMaggio broke George Sisler’s American League record of 41 consecutive games with a hit on June 29 at Griffith Stadium in Washington, and four days later, on July 2, DiMaggio broke “Wee” Willie Keeler’s major league record streak of 44 games. As the nation followed DiMaggio’s progress and he continued to hit in game after game, the Les Brown Orchestra scored a hit with the popular tune “Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio.”
Finally, on July 17 in Cleveland, in a night game in front of 67,468 fans, DiMaggio went hitless against Cleveland pitchers Al Smith and Jim Bagby, Jr. In his first three at-bats, DiMaggio grounded out to third twice against Smith, both on hard-hit balls, and then walked. With Bagby pitching in the eighth inning, DiMaggio hit into a double play, ending a Yankee rally and the greatest hitting streak in major league history. DiMaggio confided to a teammate after the game that by failing to get a hit he had also lost the $10,000 promised to him by Heinz ketchup for matching the number “57” featured on their labels.
Painting Detail: Printed on 8 ½ ” x 11” canvas and painted using Schmincke Mussini and Marshall’s oil paints. Finer details, like Yankee pinstripes, were made using Prismacolor pencils.
Acknowledgement: July 17, This Day in History website.