The Joe DiMaggio Wall of Honor
Joe DiMaggio was one of the finest players ever to grace the baseball diamond.
He was an American Icon and our dearest Friend.
Many was the time when he would sit in a booth right here in The Irish Pub and tell us stories about his life and his career. Always modest, Joe would never tell you the following:
“He was a three (3) time Most Valuable Player Award winner, a perennial All-Star and a nine (9) time World Series winner playing centerfield for the New York Yankees”.
Joe’s class, the pride in his heritage, his grace under pressure and his unquenchable desire to give his maximum effort on the ballfield every day made him the idol of his time.
This poster from January 31,1993 is for a State Dinner in honor of Joe’s support for his Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. The hospital specializes in pediatric care and was a personal favorite of his. Signed by Joe and several of his friends including his pal, Hall of Fame Shortstop, Phil Rizzuto.
Joe loved boxing almost as much as baseball. Here he is pictured with his pal and Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Louis. Few were the times Joe would miss a match in Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. In the 1930’s and 1940’s nobody in the world got more headlines for their exploits on the baseball diamond or boxing ring then these two lifelong friends.
This is a collage poster which features such memorabilia as Joe’s book “Lucky to be a Yankee”, a New York Yankees Pennant, NY Yankees Team Photo, and other various items, all connected to his wonderful career.
A beautiful photo of Joe in his Senior years. Doesn’t make you think of the lyric in the 1968 hit Simon and Garfunkel tune, “Mrs. Robinson” of the same movie? “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio, our nation turns its lonely eyes to you?” Joe later met Paul Simon and told him how he liked the song which thrilled the 16 time Grammy Award winning musician.
Joe had several nicknames but the one the New York sportswriters coined probably fit him best, “The Yankee Clipper”. Named for the elegant clipper craft that sailed in the 1800’s, Joe was the “Yankee” baseball version, his skill emulating the speed, power and grace of those remarkable vessels. This lithograph featured his classic swing and is signed by Joe.
Legendary sports cartoonist Bill Gallo worked for the New York Daily News and was a friend of Joe’s. Perhaps this painting memorializes Joe’s work in the 1970’s when he became the spokesperson for the “Mr. Coffee” home coffee-making machine. After owner Vincent Marotta convinced Joe to make the TV commercials touting his machine, sales skyrocketed. Another example of Joe’s positive influence over the American public throughout his lifetime.
Signed “To Dick Burke My Friend- With Warm Best Wishes, Joe DiMaggio.”
As great a baseball player as he was, Joe was a better man.
We treasure the times we had with Joe and miss him every day.
Joe was one of the finest hitters of all time and retired with a batting average of .325. But playing at home in Yankee Stadium placed Joe at a disadvantage. Joe was a right-handed power hitter who “Pulled” the ball to Left and Left Center Field. For Joe to hit a ball over the Leftfield fence it would have to travel over 400 feet and over 450 feet to Left Center Field. While Joe hit 361 lifetime homers, only 148 came at Yankee Stadium, losing many to be caught in the “Death Valley” of Left and Left Center Field.
Considered the baseball record that will never be broken, Joe got at least one hit in every game from May 15 through July 16, 1941. He batted .408 with 55 runs batted in and 15 Homeruns.
His streak was stopped in Cleveland on July 17, 1941, when the Indians star third-baseman Ken Keltner made two outstanding plays on power smashes by Joe, and Pitchers Al Smith and Jim Bagby, Jr. held Joe otherwise without a hit. Photo Signed by Joe.
When Joe DiMaggio was a young boy in San Francisco, CA, he sold newspapers outside of a bank. He never forgot how well dressed “Gentleman Jim”, a fellow San Francisco, CA native, was when he would enter to take care of his financial affairs. Not only was Corbett a boxing champion but he was also a star of stage and screen. So impressed was the young DiMaggio, he vowed that he would always dress in the same impeccable manner. Signed by Corbett.
After a particularly grueling game, the sportswriters came up to Joe and asked for his comments in the hard-fought contest. Joe, dirt on his uniform, sweating profusely, his leg in pain, was asked the question, “Why do you always play so hard”? Joe looked the scribe in the eye and said, “Because some young boy may be seeing me play for the first time and I want him to see me at my best”. This is the Joe DiMaggio we will always remember, at his best.
Despite Joe’s on the field rivalries with Philadelphia Athletics fellow Hall of Famers such as Mickey Cochrane, Lefty Grove, Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons, his connection to the Athletics was one born out of respect. Cornelius Mcgillicuddy, better known as “Connie Mack,” was a former Major League Catcher and the owner of the team. He formed two separate baseball dynasties, winning eight AL Pennants, and won five World Series. Joe revered him, always referred to him as “Mr. Mack”.
These three fine ballplayers all came from San Francisco and were lifelong friends. Crosetti was a two-time All-Star Shortstop and played on 8 World Series Champion teams. Lazzeri was the starting second baseman on the first All Star team in 1933, played on 5 World Series teams and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mr. DiMaggio had a nice career as well. Can we agree not bad for 3 “paisano” from the old neighborhood? Signed by all three of these great players.
Joe loved boxing and became friends with reigning Heavyweight Champion Jimmy Braddock in 1936 when he first arrived in New York City to play for the Yankees. This photo dates to January 21, 1938, when Braddock, after losing his title to Joe Louis in 1937, outpointed British fighter Tommy Farr to win a split decision at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. It was the last fight of Braddock’s career.
When Joe would come to Atlantic City, NJ for various events he invariably stayed at The Irish Pub Hotel. He loved the easy-going ambience that harkened back to a bygone era. Joe had his own room upstairs in the Hotel and would often “tease” about it. Joe inscribed this photo “Too my two dear friends – Cathy and Dick Burke with warm personal regards from your “star boarder”. Signed by Joe.
One of the biggest arguments of the 1940’s amongst fans was who was a better baseball player, Joe DiMaggio or Boston Red Sox icon Ted Williams? Many feel that “Teddy Ballgame” was a better hitter. But this is what Ted told Richard Burke one night when they attended an event with Joe: “See your buddy over there (indicating Joe) – he’s the best player I ever saw”. Signed by Joe and Ted.
Joe set the tone in the New York Yankees locker room. Before the game, there was rarely any banter, the players were to prepare to win a ball game. Afterwards, only when victory was theirs, would the rest of the team wait, respectfully, until Joe had carefully composed himself and then his teammates would stop by the locker with “# 5” on it, to speak with their leader, the heart and soul of the New York Yankees, Joe DiMaggio.
