sign in sign up
<<
Home , Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Yankee Stadium (1923)

March 16, 1999 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 4639 Authorities in Northern Ireland need cents. Up I went. And the exact same But there is one statistic for which to catch and prosecute Rosemary Nel- sequence occurred. DiMaggio will be most remembered: his son’s murderers, and they need to en- I went home. But not lifeless. To the 56-game , possibly the sure that members of the RUC did not contrary, animated. most enduring accomplishment in all aid and abet these cowards. The RUC For I hated Joe DiMaggio. For life. of sports. The streak began on May 15, needs to go under a microscope. If I knew this to be a sin, but it did not 1941, with a single in four at-bats there are problems, a new law enforce- matter. Gehrig retired, then died. My against the White Sox, and ment authority, which has the unques- animus only grew more animated. ended 56 games later on July 17 during tioned support of nationalists and Thirty years and some went by. I was a hot night in Cleveland. In 56 games, unionists, needs to be established. now the United States Permanent Rep- DiMaggio had gone to bat 223 times and Rosemary Nelson saw the seeds of resentative to the United Nations. One delivered 91 hits, including 15 home peace planted in Northern Ireland. I evening I was having dinner at an runs, for a .408 average. He drew 21 hope and pray that her three children Italian restaurant in midtown. As our walks, twice was by pitched balls, will live to see those seeds blossom company was about finished, who scored 56 runs, and knocked in 55. He into something permanent and beau- walked in but DiMaggio himself, ac- hit in every game for two months, tiful.∑ companied by a friend. They took a striking out just seven times. table against the wall opposite. I But DiMaggio’s game was so com- f watched. He looked over, smiled and plete and elegant that statistics cannot APPOINTMENT BY THE VICE gave a sort of wave. Emboldened, as we do it justice. The Times said PRESIDENT were leaving, I went over to shake in an editorial when he retired, ‘‘The The PRESIDING OFFICER. The hands. He rose wonderfully to the occa- combination of proficiency and exquis- Chair, on behalf of the Vice President, sion. ite grace which Joe DiMaggio brought pursuant to Public Law 83–420, as I went out on 54th Street as I recall. to the art of playing center field was amended by Public Law 99–371, re- And of a sudden was struck as if by something no averages can appoints the Senator from Arizona (Mr. some Old Testament lightening. ‘‘My measure and that must be seen to be God,’’ I thought, ‘‘he has forgiven me!’’ MCCAIN) to the Board of Trustees of believed and appreciated.’’ Gallaudet University. He must have known about me all Today, I join the Majority Leader those years, but he returned hate with and Senators CHARLES SCHUMER (D- f love. My soul had been in danger and NY), BARBARA BOXER (D-CA), DIANNE RECOGNIZING AND HONORING JOE he had rescued me. FEINSTEIN (D-CA), and JIM H. BUNNING DIMAGGIO Still years later, just a little while (R-KY) in introducing a resolution that ago the Yankees won another . honors Joe DiMaggio for his storied Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask Mayor Guiliani arranged a parade from baseball career and for all that he has unanimous consent that the Senate the Battery to City Hall. Joe was in done off the field. As we reflect on his proceed to the immediate consider- the lead car; I was to follow. As we life and mourn his death, I ask that we ation of S. Res. 63, introduced earlier waited to get started, I went up to him, consider ourselves extremely lucky for today by Senators MOYNIHAN, LOTT, introduced myself and told of having knowing such a man, particularly in and others. watched him at the these this age of pampered sports heroes, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without many years ago. ‘‘But I have to tell when ego and self-importance often objection, it is so ordered. The clerk you,’’ I added, ‘‘ was my overshadow what is occurring on the will report. hero.’’ field. Even I, who resented DiMaggio The bill clerk read as follows:. ‘‘He was my hero, too,’’ said Joe. for displacing my hero Gehrig, have A resolution (S. Res. 63) recognizing and Well, Joe, too, was a hero to many come to realize that there will never be honoring Joe DiMaggio. people. Few have embodied the Amer- another like Joseph Paul DiMaggio. The Senate proceeded to consider the ican dream or created a more enduring I ask unanimous consent that the resolution. legend than ‘‘Joltin’’ Joe DiMaggio. March 9, 1999, New York Times edi- Mr. MOYNIHAN. ‘‘Joe, Joe And fewer have carried themselves, torial and George F. Will’s op-ed in the DiMaggio, we want you on our side!’’ both on and off the field, with the pride Washington Post on Joe DiMaggio be Well, he is on the other side now, but and courtliness of, as Hemingway said, printed in the RECORD. stays with us in our memories. ‘‘the great DiMaggio.’’ There being no objection, the mate- Mine are, well, special to me. It Born the fourth son of an immigrant rial was ordered to be printed in the would be in 1938 or 1939 in . fisherman—two other brothers also RECORD, as follows: The Depression lingered. Life was, well, played in the majors—he joined the [From , Mar. 9, 1999] life. But there was even so somebody Yankees in 1936 after dropping out of THE DIMAGGIO MYSTIQUE who made a great difference and that high school and grew into the game’s It has been almost half a century since Joe was Lou Gehrig of the New York most complete . He wore DiMaggio turned his center-field kingdom in Yankees. I admired him as no other No. 5 and became the heir to over to a strapping young- man. Read of him each day, or so it (No. 3) and Lou Gehrig (No. 4) in the ster named , but even now, in seemed, in the Daily News. And yet I team’s pantheon. DiMaggio was the death, Joe DiMaggio still owns that green had never seen him play. One summer team’s superstar, on a team of super- acreage. He roamed the great open spaces day my mother somehow found the stars, for 13 seasons. By the time his there with a grace and grandeur that rede- needful sixty cents. Fifty cents for a career ended in 1951, he had played in fined the art of fielding. Even more than the ticket at the Stadium, a nickel for the 11 All-Star games and 10 , prolific hitting that earned him enduring fame, his silky, seemingly effortless motion subway up and back. Off I went in high nine of which the Yankees won. across the grass was the signature of expectation. But Gehrig, disease I must The ‘‘Yankee Clipper’’ was acclaimed his game. assume was now in progress, got no hit. at baseball’s centennial in 1969 as ‘‘the DiMaggio was one of those rare sports A young player I had scarce noticed hit greatest living ballplayer.’’ Even his stars, like Babe Ruth, and a home . Joe DiMaggio. It began to main rival , admitted , who not only set new stand- drizzle, but they kept the game going this: ‘‘. . . he [DiMaggio] was the ards of athletic excellence but also became a just long enough so there would be no greatest baseball player of our time. He distinctive part of American culture. As raincheck. I went home lifeless and lay could do it all.’’ DiMaggio played 1,736 stylish off the field as on, DiMaggio was an icon of elegance and success, a name as rec- on my bed desolate. games with the Yankees. He had a ca- ognizable on Broadway and in Hollywood as Clearly I was in pain, if that is the reer of .325 and hit 361 at the ball park. Millions of baby boomers word. The next day my mother some- home runs while striking out only 369 who never saw DiMaggio play instantly un- how came up with yet another sixty times. He could indeed do it all. derstood the reference in the

VerDate jul 14 2003 12:06 Sep 28, 2004 Jkt 069102 PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR99\S16MR9.003 S16MR9 4640 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE March 16, 1999 song of the 1960’s—‘‘Where have you gone, DiMaggio started a 16-game streak. His 56 cisco Bay. Like many Californians then Joe DiMaggio? A nation turns its lonely eyes has not been seriously challenged in 57 sea- and now, Joe was the child of immi- to you.’’ sons. His 1993 minor league streak of 61 has grants. His parents came from to Other men have hit the ball farther and not been matched since then. run the bases faster, but few have excelled at Because of baseball’s grinding everyday- California, where his father found work so many elements of the sport. DiMaggio’s ness, professionals place a premium on con- as a fisherman. 56-game hitting streak in 1941 remains un- sistency. DiMaggio brought his best, which At age 18, Joe began his professional touched, one of the great benchmarks of con- was baseball’s best, to the ballpark every baseball career with the San Francisco sistency and productivity in all of sports. In day. What he epitomized to a mesmerized na- Seals, where he set a Pacific Coast 13 seasons with the Yankees, DiMaggio pro- tion in 1941—steely will, understated style, League record that still stands by hit- duced a career batting average of .325, hit 361 heroism for the long haul—the nation would ting in 61 straight games. Three years home runs and knocked in more than 100 need after Dec. 7. However, the unrivaled elegance of his ca- later, he joined the runs in a season nine times. He played in 10 and immediately became one of base- World Series, 9 of which the Yankees won. reer is defined by two numbers even more He possessed one of the sweetest swings base- impressive than his 56. They are 8 and 0. ball’s brightest stars. In 1941, his 56- ball has ever seen, a hitting stroke of such Eight is the astonishingly small difference game hitting streak set a major league precision that he struck out only 369 times between his 13-year career totals for home record that most baseball fans consider in his major league career. runs (361) and (369). (In the 1986 the game’s greatest achievement. But the numbers alone do not explain the and 1987 season, hit 64 home DiMaggio played 13 seasons for the DiMaggio mystique. Part of it was his brief, runs and struck out 332 times.) Zero is the of times DiMaggio was thrown out Yankees, winning three Most Valuable turbulent marriage to Monroe and Player awards and playing on nine his taste for nightclubs and tony hotels. Part going from first to third. On the field, the man made few mistakes. World Series championship teams. He of it was his $100,000-a-year salary, a small Off the field, he made a big one in his mar- fortune in his days as a Yankee. For younger was selected to the Baseball Hall of riage to . But even it en- fans, there was also an almost mystical link Fame in 1955 and voted Major League larged his mythic status. As when they were to the past—DiMaggio joined the Yankees in Baseball’s greatest living player in in Japan, and she visited U.S. troops in 1936, just two years after Babe Ruth left and Korea. Upon her return to Tokyo, she said to 1969. before Lou Gehrig retired. His appearance on him, ingenuously: You’ve never heard cheer- Joe DiMaggio was a great ballplayer, ceremonial occasions at Yankee Stadium in ing like that—there must have been fifty or but he was far more than that. Joe was recent years was thrilling for fans of all sixty thousand. He said, dryly: Oh, yes I a role model for young people and a ages. have. model citizen. At the height of his ca- His fame also flowed from the aura of quiet They had gone to Japan at the rec- reer, he left baseball to volunteer for dignity that DiMaggio carefully preserved ommendation of a friend (Lefty O’Doul, man- throughout his career and retirement. With the Army Air Corps and served three ager of the San Francisco Seals), who said years in World War II. In his later the notable exception of his service as a that in a foreign country they could wander pitchman for the Bowery Savings Bank and around without drawing crowds. The friend years he worked tirelessly to support Mr. brewing appliances, he dodged the did not know that Japan was then obsessed the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital celebrity limelight. The mystery only added with things American, especially baseball in Hollywood, Florida. to his allure. stars and movie stars. When the most fa- I will never forget a televised image DiMaggio, who was 84, died with opening mous of each category landed, it took their of Joe DiMaggio from a decade ago. In day a month away. Though he will no longer car six hours to creep to their hotel through return to Yankee Stadium to deliver the cer- October 1989, as the Oakland A’s and more than a million people. emonial first pitch, his singular record of were about to As a Californian, he represented baseball’s start a World Series game, a mammoth athletic achievement and classy conduct will future—he and San Diego’s Ted Williams, a be long revered. 21-year-old rookie in 1939, when DiMaggio earthquake struck the Bay Area. Fire was 24. DiMaggio, son of a San Francisco swept through San Francisco’s Marina (From , Mar. 9, 1999] fisherman, was proud, reserved and as pri- district, where DiMaggio lived at the DIMAGGIO’S ELEGANT CAREER vate as possible for the bearer—the second time. That night, as residents strug- (By George F. Will) generation—of America’s premium athletic gled to deal with the earthquake and There is peculiar pathos to the lives of tradition, the Yankee greatness established its aftermath, they saw a man who— most great athletes because their careers by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. DiMaggio felt despite his advanced age—showed the compress life’s trajectory of aspiration, ac- violated by the sight of Marilyn filming the strength and dignity to walk calmly famous scene in ‘‘’’ when complishment and decline. Then what? For through the rubble and reassure his most, the rest of life, which is most of life, a gust of wind from a Manhattan subway is anticlimax, like that of grate blows her skirt up above her waist. neighbors. At this moment, as always, Runners whom renown outran, Pride, supposedly one of the seven deadly DiMaggio was an inspiration to us all. And the name died before the man, sins, is often a virtue and the source of oth- From his early days with the San But there was seamlessness to Joe ers. DiMaggio was pride incarnate, and he Francisco Seals to his service as base- DiMaggio’s life in and after the game. The and did much to stir ethnic ball’s greatest ambassador, Joe patina of age did not dull the luster of his pride among and Jews. DiMaggio was the epitome of elegance, When as a player DiMaggio had nothing left name. Baseball, sport of the long season and grace, and good sportsmanship. much history, has an unusually rich statis- to prove, he was asked why he still played so tical geology—a sediment of numbers. Some hard, every day. Because, he said, every day Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I am numbers are so talismanic that simply citing there is apt to be some child in the stand pleased to join Senators MOYNIHAN, them suffices to identify the achievement who has never before seen me play. LOTT, and BOXER in cosponsoring this and achiever. An entire ethic, the code of craftsmanship, resolution to honor Mr. Joe DiMaggio. Examples are 116 (victories in a season, can be tickled from that admirable thought. On , 1999, Joe DiMaggio, one of 1906 Cubs); 511 (career victories, ); Not that DiMaggio practiced the full range the greatest baseball players of all- 1.12 (season , , of his craft. When one of his managers was time, died in Tampa, Florida. The asked if DiMaggio could , he said he did 1968); 130 (stolen bases in a season, Rickey Yankee Clipper led his life with class Henderson, 1982); 755 (home runs, career, not know and ‘‘I’ll never find out, either.’’ ); 60, then 61 and now 70 (home DiMaggio, one of Jefferson’s ‘‘natural aris- and dignity. A true hero and the quin- runs by Babe Ruth in 1927, in tocrats,’’ proved that a healthy democracy tessential American, Mr. DiMaggio 1961 and Mark McGwire in 1998); .406 (most knows and honors nobility when it sees it. gave people something to believe in. recent .400 season, Ted Williams, 1941). And Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, as a Playing 13 seasons in the major baseball’s most instantly recognized number, Senator from Joe DiMaggio’s home leagues, all for the New York Yankees, 56—Joe DiMaggio’s consecutive game hitting state, I am pleased to be an original co- Number 5 not only took left field in streak in 1941. sponsor of the resolution honoring ‘‘the Yankee Stadium, but also took over The Streak, as it is still known, was stun- New York and baseball showing us his ning, even if a sympathetic at Yankee Clipper.’’ Joe DiMaggio holds a Yankee Stadium may have turned an unique place in the hearts of every talent day in and day out. When one or two into hits. It took two sensational baseball fan and every Californian. looks at the numbers accumulated by plays by Indians Joe DiMaggio was born in 1914 in Mr. DiMaggio, it is hard to think of to stop The Streak, and the next day Martinez, California, near San Fran- anyone who did it better and in such a

VerDate jul 14 2003 12:06 Sep 28, 2004 Jkt 069102 PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR99\S16MR9.003 S16MR9 March 16, 1999 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE 4641 genuine fashion. As a baseball player, played on 9 World Series championship a.m., with Senators permitted to speak few have approached DiMaggio. With a teams; for up to 10 minutes each, with the fol- .325 batting average, nine World Series Whereas Joe DiMaggio hit 361 home runs lowing exceptions: Senator VOINOVICH, during his career, while striking out only 369 rings, a 56 consecutive game hitting 15 minutes; Senator GRASSLEY, 10 min- streak in 1941 (a major league record times; Whereas Joe DiMaggio was selected to the utes; Senator SCHUMER, 10 minutes; that has never been seriously chal- Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955, 4 years after Senator BINGAMAN, 10 minutes; Senator lenged for more than 5 decades), 361 his retirement; KERREY of Nebraska, 15 minutes. home runs with only 369 strike-outs, Whereas Joe DiMaggio in 1969 was voted The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Joe DiMaggio transcended the game of ’s greatest living objection, it is so ordered. baseball and will remain a symbol for player; Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask the ages of talent, commitment, and Whereas Joe DiMaggio served the Nation unanimous consent that following grace. As Simon and Garfunkel sang in in World War II as a member of the Army Air morning business, the Senate resume their hit song Mrs. Robinson, ‘‘where Corps; Whereas Joe DiMaggio was tireless in help- consideration of S. 257, the national have you gone Joe DiMaggio. . . .’’, the missile defense bill, under the provi- answer is, into our hearts, which will ing others and was devoted to the ‘‘Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’’ in Hollywood, sions of the unanimous consent agree- stay with us forever. Florida; ment reached earlier today. But Joe DiMaggio was more than a Whereas Joe DiMaggio will be remembered The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without great baseball player, he transcended as a role model for generations of young peo- objection, it is so ordered. the game and will remain a symbol for ple; and the ages—a symbol of talent, commit- Whereas Joe DiMaggio transcended base- f ment, and grace. With so few true he- ball and will remain a symbol for the ages of roes today, we are lucky that millions talent, commitment, and achievement: Now, PROGRAM of New Yorkers and baseball fans ev- therefore, be it Mr. COCHRAN. For the information erywhere could live their lives touched Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and of all Senators, the Senate will recon- honors Joe DiMaggio— by a hero like Joe DiMaggio. vene tomorrow at 10 a.m. and begin a Mr. COCHRAN. I ask unanimous con- (1) for his storied baseball career; (2) for his many contributions to the Na- period of morning business until 11 sent that the resolution and preamble tion throughout his lifetime; and a.m. Following morning business, the be agreed to, en bloc, the motion to re- (3) for transcending baseball and becoming Senate will resume consideration of consider be laid upon the table, and a symbol for the ages of talent, commitment, the missile defense bill, with a limited that any statements relating to the and achievement. number of amendments remaining in resolution be placed at the appropriate f order. The leader has expressed his place in the RECORD. hope that the Senate can complete ac- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without MEASURE PLACED ON THE CALENDAR—H. CON. RES. 42 tion on the bill by early afternoon on objection, it is so ordered. Wednesday. The resolution (S. Res. 63) was agreed Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask For the remainder of the week, the to. unanimous consent that H. Con. Res. 42 leader has stated that the Senate may The preamble was agreed to. be placed on the calendar. The resolution, with its preamble, consider a Kosovo resolution and/or the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without supplemental appropriations bill. reads as follows: objection, it is so ordered. S. RES. 63 Therefore, Members should expect f rollcall votes during Wednesday’s ses- Joseph Paul ‘‘Joe’’ DiMaggio was born in Martinez, California, on November 25, 1914; ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH sion and throughout the reminder of Whereas Joe DiMaggio was the son of Sicil- 17, 1999 the week. ian immigrants, Joseph Paul and Rosalia Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, I ask f DiMaggio, and was the 2d of 3 brothers to play Major League Baseball; unanimous consent that when the Sen- ate completes its business today it ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 A.M. Whereas Joe DiMaggio played 13 seasons in TOMORROW the major leagues, all for the New York stand in adjournment until 10 a.m., on Yankees; Wednesday, March 17. I further ask Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, if Whereas Joe DiMaggio, who wore number 5 that on Wednesday, immediately fol- there is no further business to come be- in Yankee pinstripes, became a baseball icon lowing the prayer, the Journal of pro- fore the Senate, I now ask unanimous in the 1941 season by hitting safely in 56 con- ceedings be approved to date, the consent the Senate stand in adjourn- secutive games, a major league record that has stood for more than 5 decades and has morning hour be deemed to have ex- ment under the previous order. never been seriously challenged; pired, the time for the two leaders be There being no objection, the Senate, Whereas Joe DiMaggio compiled a .325 bat- reserved, and the Senate then begin a at 5:59 p.m., adjourned until Wednes- ting average during his storied career and period of morning business until 11 day, March 17, 1997, at 10 a.m.

VerDate jul 14 2003 12:06 Sep 28, 2004 Jkt 069102 PO 00000 Frm 00094 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR99\S16MR9.003 S16MR9