“I’d like to thank God for making me a Yankee!”

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“I’d like to thank God for making me a Yankee!”

So said 34-year old Joe DiMaggio 67 years ago yesterday, October 1, 1949, uttering what was to become one of baseball’s most memorable phrases. The occasion was “Joe DiMaggio Day” at Yankee stadium with 69,551 fans on hand to witness the grand occasion. Joe was nearing the end of his 11^th season as one of baseball’s greatest stars. The one-hour ceremony was a fitting tribute to the great Yankee Clipper and was held prior to the day’s important game against the Red Sox with the American League pennant on the line.

Pictured with Joe is long-time Yankee broadcaster Mel Allen, serving as Master of Ceremonies. New York City mayor William O’Dwyer is speaking at the microphone. Joe’s mother and son, as well as his brother Dom were also in attendance.

Cash gifts were estimated at $5,500 and Mayor O’Dwyer informed the crowd that DiMaggio insisted all the money gifts be turned over charity, saying: “You came here from San Francisco. Today you will never leave New York.”

The normally-reserved Joltin’ Joe actually got emotional during the ceremony, remarking: “This is one of the few times I’ve choked up,” and then added, “Many years ago, Lefty O’Doul said, ‘Joe, don’t let the big town scare you. New York is the most generous town in the world.’ This day proves that New York is also the friendliest town in the world.”

And how about the “haul” Joe came away with that day? Many of the gifts are visible in the photo above. The inventory is nothing short of amazing: a car for him and another one for his mother, a speedboat, three watches, two television sets, radio, deer rifle, hats, 300 quarts of ice cream [!], three hand-painted ties, traveling clock, key chain, 25 record albums, electric blanket, two wallets, three sets of cuff links, belt buckle, three tie pins, golf bag, dozen golf balls, ash tray, luggage, fishing tackle, a four-year college scholarship for a person of DiMaggio’s choosing, taxi service, two thermos jugs, two pairs of sunglasses, oil painting, living room carpet, electric roaster, three money clips, paper weight, metal elephant, set of rosary beads, foam mattress and bed springs, cheese, and cases of potato chips, oranges, lemonade, and lima beans [!]. In addition, Joe’s son received a bicycle, a train set…and a cocker spaniel!

The Red Sox, lined up near the plate for the ceremony, gave Joe a plaque with the name of each player inscribed. It was the second-to-last day of the season, and the game to follow had definite post-season implications. The Yankees won 5-4, drawing even with the Red Sox, now managed by former Yankee skipper Joe McCarthy, at 96-57.

DiMaggio had been sick in bed with pneumonia three days before the game. He batted cleanup and went 2-4, helping the Yankees come back from a 4-0 deficit.  The next day, the Yankees clinched the American League pennant with a 5-3 win. A week later, they won the World Series over the Dodgers, the team’s first of five consecutive championships, and the first under Casey Stengel.

-Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: All from Google search; Joe DiMaggio colorization by Don Stokes: https://www.facebook.com/Don-Stokes-Old-Time-Baseball-Colorizations-923346241033508/photos

Information: Excerpts edited from article: “A Day For Joe,” on the National Baseball Hall of Fame website. Read more at: http://exhibits.baseballhalloffame.org/Picturing-America-s-Pastime/field-of-view-day-for-joe.html

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