Number twelve so far in my series of All-Time Baseball greats,
The son of an Italian immigrant fisherman, Joseph Paul ”Joe“ DiMaggio. Voted in Baseball's Centennial year of 1969, (after induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame back in 1955,) as the greatest living player. Was a three-time MVP winner and an All-Star in each of his thirteen seasons. During his tenure with the New York Yankees, the club won ten American League pennants and nine, count them, nine, World Series championships. His is best known for his 56-game hitting streak (May 15-July 16, 1941,) a record that still stands to this day.He also is well known as one of Marilyn Monroe's beaus, albeit it briefly as a married couple. Interestingly enough it was reported that while they were married, in September of 1954, Marilyn was filming ”The Seven Year Itch” with 20th Century Fox. The Director, Billy Wilder, wanted a media circus and got one. Much to Joe's chagrin and downright anger. While filming the mega-famous “skirt blowing” scene in front of Manhattan‘s Trans-Lux 52nd Street Theater, Joe and Marilyn had a “yelling battle” inside the theater‘s lobby. A month later, Marilyn filed for divorce on grounds of mental cruelty. Afterwards, Joe got counseling, stopped drinking, and pursued other interests. The couple reconciled years later in February of '61, and she visited him in Florida whilst he was working as a hitting coach. Other reports were that Joe had planned on re-marring Marilyn, but, was always concerned about the type people she was surrounded by. By August of 1962, Marilyn was dead. Joe and his son, Joe Jr., barred the celebrity Hollywood elite from her funeral. He had a half-dozen red roses delivered three times a week to her crypt for 20 years, and he refused to talk about her publicly or otherwise exploit their relationship. He never married again. When he died in 1999, his last words were "I'll finally get to see Marilyn.
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