After ending his holdout – make that after losing in his attempt to be paid the $40,000 that he insisted he was worth – Joe DiMaggio arrived in New York on April 23 to join the Yankees, but admittedly, he was not in playing shape. A contingent of reporters waited at Penn Station for DiMaggio’s arrival, but Joe sidestepped what would have been a circus-like atmosphere by getting off the train in Newark. He immediately went to Yankee Stadium and was in uniform by noon.
Inconsistent Statements
The Yankees announced that DiMaggio would not play for at least a week, which meant that he would miss the first six or seven games of the 1938 season. He was scheduled to sign his contract the day after his arrival and even the great Joe DiMaggio made statements that seemed inconsistent with his actions. "I’m satisfied with my $25,000 contract, although it’s natural to consider myself worth more. It’s a mistake to say outsiders advised me in my salary dispute. The decision to accept the $25,000 salary was my own."
DiMaggio's Friend Joe Gould
If Joe were satisfied with the $25,000 salary, why did he wait until April to accept a satisfactory offer? Joe was a good friend of fighter Jim Braddock’s manager, Joe Gould. It was rumored throughout the holdout that Gould coached Joe in setting his demands. Gould vehemently denied any involvement in DiMaggio’s actions, but it was Gould who saw to it that DiMaggio left the train at Newark and was driven to the Stadium.
Less Than Face Value
On April 24, Joe signed his $25,000 contract, but he would receive less than $25,000 because the salary would not go into effect until DiMaggio was ready to play. It was costing him $148 for every day that he missed, but Joe still expressed satisfaction with the terms.
Taken to the Hospital in the Sixth Inning
In his first exclusive workout at the Stadium, Al Schacht, the "Clown Prince" of baseball did the pitching while Joe Gould, boxer Walter Woods, and a group of their friends shagged flies for DiMaggio, who cut the session short when he burst a blister on his right hand. Joe wore gloves the next few days and on April 30, he played his first game in Washington. He wound up in the hospital with Joe Gordon.
A Terrible Collision on a Pop Fly
The Senators were trailing by three runs but had runners on first and second with two outs in the sixth inning. Taft Wright was sent up to pinch-hit for pitcher Dutch Leonard. He hit a pop fly to behind second base toward short left center field. DiMaggio, left fielder Myril Hoag, and second baseman Joe Gordon, who was shaded to his right, went after the ball. The three arrived at ball simultaneously. Hoag avoided DiMaggio and Gordon to make the catch, but DiMaggio and Gordon collided when Gordon ran into Joe, who was hit on the left side of the head while Gordon was smashed on the right side of his head and body. Gordon remained unconscious for about five minutes and showed signs of a concussion. DiMaggio was out only for a minute or two.
The two players were carried off the field and sent to Garfield Hospital where X-rays showed no fractures for either. They stayed in the hospital overnight and returned to the Shoreham hotel the next. DiMaggio played that afternoon but Gordon watched from the stands. Of course, if Joe had missed the game, he would not have been docked $148 because, after all, he was no longer a hold out.
References:
- Dawson, James P. "DiMaggio Hopes to Play Friday; Pay Will Start on His Return; Satisfied With Terms of $25,000 Less $148 Lost Daily for Inactivity; Right Hand Blistered." New York Times. 26 April 1938, p. 24.
- Dawson, James P. "Players in Crash; Gordon Collides With DiMaggio Chasing a Fly; Both in Hospital." New York Times. 1 May 1938, p. 73.
- DiMaggio Arrives, Dons Uniform After Eluding Group at Station." New York Times. 24 April 1938, p. 74.
