Dale Says

July 17, 1941 was a pleasant day in Cleveland, with a game-time temperature of 76 degrees – a perfect day for baseball. The Cleveland Indians were hosting the New York Yankees, and the stadium was packed. Jolting Joe DiMaggio, the Yankees record-setting slugger was playing, and he was on a roll, having hit safely in 56 straight games – a record that had never previously been achieved (and has never since been eclipsed).

Joe’s “streak” as it had become known, started on May 15, and Joe had hit safely at least once in every game since. During those games, he had recorded 91 hits and batted .408. Even more important to Joe: When the streak began the Yankees were 14-15 and in fourth place; when it ended they were 56-27 and in first place.

Each of DiMaggio’s at-bats that night was an event, and the fans cheered and hooted every time he came to the plate. Many of them were unsure whether they wanted to see him get a hit (and keep the streak going) or make an out. Either way, they were witnessing history.

Joe came to bat in the first inning against the Indian’s pitcher, Al Smith. He let two balls go by and then hit the third pitch – a ground ball into the infield that really should have been a hit. But the Indian’s third baseman, Ken Keltner, made a great play, back-handed it, and threw to first, where the ball barely beat DiMaggio to the bag.

In the fourth inning, Joe again came to bat, and this time he built the count to 3-2 and drew a walk. He was safely on base, but he still didn’t have a hit.

When the seventh inning came around, the fans and players were tense. In his third at-bat of the day, DiMaggio hit the first pitch to third base, where Keltner made another excellent play, grabbed the ball, and threw DiMaggio out.

But Joe had one more chance when he came to bat again in the eighth inning. This time he faced Jim Bagby, Jr., son of the man who had pitched Cleveland to a pennant in 1920. DiMaggio hit the fourth pitch – a feeble ground ball to the shortstop – who grabbed it, threw it to the second baseman, who relayed it to first for a double play. Joe was out and his streak had ended.

After crossing first base, Joe turned left and continued running toward center field to play defense. He didn’t kick the earth or shake his head or pound his glove or show any visible signs of frustration. He just got on with his job.

The crowd was stunned. The Yankees won the ball game 4 to 3. Jolting Joe’s streak ended at 56 games.

DiMaggio wrestled with two emotions that night: relief and sadness. He was typically low-key with the media. “The streak doesn’t mean a thing,” he told reporters. “That seven-game lead we took over the Indians means more. But that Keltner certainly robbed me of at least one hit. That boy can field them. I do feel relieved, however, now that it’s all over. I admit I’ve been under a strain after the records were broken. But that’s gone now. I’ll be out there now still trying to get my base hits to win games. That’s all that has counted anyway.”

That night DiMaggio waited for the crowd outside the ballpark to thin, and then he left with his teammate and friend, Phil Rizzuto. They walked together up the hill toward their hotel. Joe went into a little bar and grill, alone, to have dinner. The rest of his life was still ahead of him.

Joe DiMaggio’s seemingly impossible 56-game hit streak had come to an end. History was capped in Cleveland Stadium on that pleasant day in July of 1941.