Happy 100th Birthday Joe Di Maggio

Peter_Spaeth · #1 11-25-2014, 09:40 PM

One of the books about him, I forget which now, portrays him as a complete asshole but that seems contrary to a lot of anecdotal evidence. For example there's a couple of youtube videos of him on What's My Line and he's quite affable and seemingly genuine.

Jobu · #2 11-25-2014, 10:21 PM

Peter - the newest Mantle bio The Last Boy also doesn’t paint Joe D in a very favorable light though he is admittedly a minor part of it. And now for my anecdote.

--------

I met Joe D in 199(5?) at the National in Chicago. I think he was charging $150 for an autograph so a teenage Jobu didn’t get one. However, my tale does not end here.

As luck would have it, my brother, father and I all chose to relieve ourselves mere seconds before Joe made the same call. My brother, 13 months younger than me, pissed to my left while Joe D, unbeknownst to me, pissed to my right. My brother started elbowing me and making noises in an effort to get me to look to my right. Thinking this was just typical younger brother harassment intended to cause me to break urinal etiquette and look at the guy next to me, I told him to knock it off and went to wash my hands. When I turned around from the sink I came face to face with Joe, who was stopped and looking right at me while waiting for my sink. My reaction must have been priceless, mouth immediately flying open and eyes wide, because Joe cracked a smile and said “Gotta take a piss, huh kid?” while he tapped me lightly on the arm. I was too shocked to offer much of a response, I think I cracked a half smile and nodded yes. But wait, there is more!

My dad, born in 1943, brother and I then walked out of the restroom grinning like kids who had just been given $50 and were about to be set loose in a candy store. As we slowly walked away, smiling from our encounter, I learned that my father did not share my concern for restroom etiquette, or at least was willing to break the rules if the situation required it. It turns out he was pissing to Joe D’s right and had recognized his neighbor. He broke the silence by uttering a statement that I will never forget “I just saw the unit that was in Marilyn Monroe.”

I want to say happy birthday to Joe and thank you for being such a gentleman (though things might have turned out differently had he noticed my father!). Your willingness to interact with your fans gave me my favorite baseball story, one featuring an all-time great from baseball’s golden age and a bonding moment for the boys in my family. These two things, great players and shared moments, are what baseball is all about.

EvilKing00 · #3 11-26-2014, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobu

Peter - the newest Mantle bio The Last Boy also doesn�t paint Joe D in a very favorable light though he is admittedly a minor part of it. And now for my anecdote.

--------

I met Joe D in 199(5?) at the National in Chicago. I think he was charging $150 for an autograph so I didn�t get one. However, my tale does not end here.

As luck would have it, my brother, father and I all chose to relieve ourselves mere seconds before Joe made the same call. My brother, 13 months younger than me, pissed to my left while Joe D, unbeknownst to me, pissed to my right. My brother started elbowing me and making noises in an effort to get me to look to my right. Thinking this was just typical younger brother harassment intended to cause me to break urinal etiquette and look at the guy next to me, I told him to knock it off and went to wash my hands. When I turned around from the sink I came face to face with Joe, who was stopped and looking right at me while waiting for my sink. My reaction must have been priceless, mouth immediately flying open and eyes wide, because Joe cracked a smile and said �Gotta take a piss, huh kid?� while he tapped me lightly on the arm. I was too shocked to offer much of a response, I think I cracked a half smile and nodded yes. But wait, there is more!

My dad, born in 1943, brother and I then walked out of the restroom grinning like kids who had just been given $50 and were about to be set loose in a candy store. As we slowly walked away, smiling from our encounter, I learned that my father did not share my concern for restroom etiquette, or at least was willing to break the rules if the situation required it. It turns out he was pissing to Joe D�s right and had recognized his neighbor. He broke the silence by uttering a statement that I will never forget �I just saw the unit that was in Marilyn Monroe.�

I want to say happy birthday to Joe and thank you for being such a gentleman (though things might have turned out differently had he noticed my father!). Your willingness to interact with your fans gave me my favorite baseball story, one featuring an all-time great from baseball�s golden age and a bonding moment for the boys in my family. These two things, great players and shared moments, are what baseball is all about.

Fantastic story! Great line from your dad!

Jobu · #4 11-26-2014, 05:57 PM

Glad y'all enjoyed it - I still smile every time I think about it.

Fred · #5 11-25-2014, 10:24 PM

Here's Joe and (4) other MLers during WW2. Wow, that picture is 70 years old now...

http://www.net54baseball.com/attachm...1&d=1416975740

Fred · #6 11-25-2014, 10:27 PM

Bryan,

That's a great story... thanks for sharing that, made my night.

Bored5000 · #7 11-26-2014, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

One of the books about him, I forget which now, portrays him as a complete asshole but that seems contrary to a lot of anecdotal evidence.

"The Hero's Life" by Richard Ben Cramer.

Peter_Spaeth · #8 11-26-2014, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bored5000

"The Hero's Life" by Richard Ben Cramer.

Right, read it a number of years ago, it just seemed gratuitously nasty and one-sided.

itjclarke · #9 11-26-2014, 11:54 PM

My best friend's grandpa was one of Joe D's golf buddies, but I never got to meet the man.. and regretfully, never got to see him (or many many many other greats) play.

Some cool stories so far (laughed about the "unit", which was apparently legendary), and seems further proof that people are often much more than their oft publicized personna/reputation.

Leaf Joe Dimaggio signed.jpg 1939-1966 Salutation Exhibits Joe Dimaggio signed.jpg

EvilKing00 · #10 11-27-2014, 07:16 AM

361 home runs, 369 strikeouts

CMIZ5290 · #11 11-26-2014, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

One of the books about him, I forget which now, portrays him as a complete asshole but that seems contrary to a lot of anecdotal evidence. For example there's a couple of youtube videos of him on What's My Line and he's quite affable and seemingly genuine.

Peter- I here you, and that's what I always heard. I had a couple of relatives in Pro sports, and one of the biggest things you heard about DiMaggio was his nastiness and dislike towards Mantle. Let's face it, they were two completely different superstars. Also, his reluctance about autographs out in public was fairly well known. I wish I knew the true story behind him and Mantle....

harlem86 · #12 11-26-2014, 10:38 PM

Just getting back to the thread. Thanks for all the stories they all made great reading.

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