Baseball, America’s great past-time, has seen many contributions by Italian Americans. Joe DiMaggio stands out as one of the greatest in baseball history.

Born on November 25, 1914 of Sicilian immigrants, Joe DiMaggio was one of nine children. As a young man, he worked at various jobs until his older brother, Vince, gave him the opportunity to play as a substitute. Joe was an excellent hitter and caught the eye of fans and scouts alike, finally signing with the New York Yankees. Joltin’ Joe or Yankee Clipper, as he was affectionately known, became instantly popular.