Former Italian/ Americn Player: Dom DiMaggio (1940-1953)

Dominic Paul DiMaggio was born to Italian immigrants in San Francisco, California on Feb. 12, 1917. He was the youngest of the three famous DiMaggio brothers, which featured Vince & Hall of Famer Joe.

 At first Dom was a star player for the Pacific Coast League’s legendary San Francisco Seals. He played there for three seasons, bashing over 40 doubles twice with 48 1939. That year he also hit 18 triples with 14 HRs while batting .360. In 2006 he was named to the Pacific Coast Leagues Hall of Fame.

In 1940 the five foot nine, center fielder signed with the Boston Red Sox . He became known as "the little professor" because he wore round rimmed glasses, he became notorious for. He played in a legendary all .300 hitting Red Sox outfield of himself, Ted Williams, & Doc Cramer in his rookie year. He batted .301 with 8 HRs 32 doubles & a .367 on base %.

Dom made seven All Star teams in his career, batting over.300 four times, hitting 30 plus doubles seven times as well. He led the AL in runs scored & at bats twice (1950-1951). He would score over 100 runs in six of his ten playing seasons. He also led the league in triples, games played, plate appearances & stolen bases in 1950. His 15 steals are a record for the lowest ever for a league leader.

He was in the top ten in the AL in hits, six times and still holds the Red Sox record with a 34 game hitting streak. He was considered by many a better centerfielder than his brother Joe. In 1946 he was chosen over Joe D. in the Sporting News All Star game. He led the AL in assists three times, putouts and double plays twice while playing center field. He also held records for putouts & total chances that stood for nearly thirty years.

Post Season: He played in only one World Series, it was in 1946 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

In Game #7 he tied the game up with a two out double, scoring two runs. As he slid into second base but pulled his ham string & had to be removed from the game. In the bottom of the 8th, St. Louis’ Enos Slaughter made his famous “mad dash” to home plate scoring the winning run. 

It is believed by many that DiMaggio's strong arm would have thrown out Slaughter, had he still been in the outfield. If that were to be true, imagine how different Red Sox history would have been? He batted .259 in the Series with three doubles & three RBIs.

Dom’s career spanned only 11 years due to three years he served of military service  during World War II.  

Retirement: After baseball he was a plastics manufacturer in the New England area. He was a close life long friend of former Red Sox legends Ted Williams, Bobby Doer & Johnny Pesky. Dom Dimaggio passed away in May 2009 at age 92.