DiMaggio is Now Number One
Joe's 56-Game Hitting Streak is the Greatest, Clearest of All
DiMaggio's record is the greatest hitting record of all, but for a few minutes, on a July afternoon, it appeared that the genuineness of the streak might be questioned.
A columnist for a New York tabloid finally got one right the day that a San Francisco Giants' player hit yet another home run. "Once, 33 years ago, the home run record, off the bat of Aaron, was the greatest and most glamorous record in baseball. Not anymore. Now it is Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak." Joe DiMaggio's record is clearly the greatest hitting record of all time, but for a few minutes, on a muggy July afternoon, it appeared that the genuineness of the streak might be questioned.
Was It a Hit or an Error?
It was the first game of a twin bill against the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. The streak was at 42 games, which meant that DiMaggio could tie Wee Willie Keeler's major league record of hitting in 44 consecutive games if he got a hit in each games. Boston lefty Mickey Harris retired Joe his first two at bats. Next time up, DiMaggio hit a tricky ground ball behind the third base bag that Jim Tabor, known for his powerful throwing arm, fielded cleanly, but hurrying his throw, Tabor made a wild peg to first base. DiMaggio wound up at second as everyone wondered how the play would be scored.
There Was a Way to Remove All Doubt
Dan Daniel, the "dean of baseball writers” who would receive the J.G. Taylor Spink Award in 1972, and who was official scorer for more than twenty of the games during the streak, felt the pressure. Calling it a hit would create doubt, while ruling it a two base error would create resentment. Daniel realized that he had decide quickly in order to demonstrate that he was certain of his ruling. It was immediately called a hit and Daniel charged Tabor with an error for allowing DiMaggio to reach second base. The crowd roared its approval, but it was a questionable call. Of course, there was one way to get rid of any doubts. Next time up, Joe hit a hard single to left field for a clean hit.
The Last Chance
The streak ended in Cleveland on July 17. Batting for the first time in the game, Joe was robbed of a hit when third baseman Kenny Keltner made a play similar to the one that Tabor did not. Next time, in the fourth inning, Joe walked, and in the seventh inning, Keltner made another fine play to retire him, but there would be one more chance. Those who saw the game said that when DiMaggio came to the plate in the eighth inning with the bases loaded and one out, he showed no emotion. Except for the time that Al Gionfriddo robbed him of a potential game tying hit in the World Series, he never did, at least not publicly.
What Joe Said
The Yankees had already scored twice in the inning for a 4-1 lead. The count on DiMaggio went to a ball and a strike when he hit the next pitch sharply to shortstop. Lou Boudreau fielded the ground ball, flipped it to second baseman Ray Mack for the force at second, and Mack fired to first baseman Oscar Grimes to retire DiMaggio and the Yankees. Everyone figured that the streak was over, and they were right. After the game, after the streak was over, all Joe DiMaggio would say was "I can't say I'm glad it's over. Of course, I wanted it to go on as long as I could."
The Greatest Hitting Record of All
Well, now that the single season home run record, the lifetime home run record, and the record for most career hits are held by individuals who will get into the Hall of Fame only by paying the same admission fee anyone else would pay, Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak really is the greatest and most glamorous record in baseball. And it always will be.
References:
- Daley, Arthur. "Yankee Star Hits 44th Game in Row; DiMaggio Bats Safely in Two Contests to Equal Keeler's All-Time Major Mark." The New York Times. 2 July 1941, p.25.
- DeGregoria, George. "Joe D.'s Streak Hits the Heights; DiMaggio Takes Streak to Record Height of 56." The New York Times. 1 August 1978, p.C9.
- Drebinger, John. "Smith and Bagby Stop Yankee Star; DiMaggio, Up for Last Time in Eighth, Hits into a Double Play With Bases Full." The New York Times. 18 July 1941, p. 12
