Joe DiMaggio was the centerfielder for the New York Yankees from his debut on May 3, 1936 to his final game on September 30, 1951. Joe DiMaggio set the Yankees franchise record for most home runs hit as a rookie with 29 home runs which stood until 2017 when Aaron Judge broke it with 52 home runs his rookie year. 

In 1937, DiMaggio led the majors with 46 home runs and finished second in MVP voting behind second baseman Charlie Gehringer on the Detroit Tigers. He was given his famous nickname the “Yankee Clipper” in 1939 by Yankees announcer, Arch McDonald. The Yankees also won their fourth consecutive World Series in 1939, making DiMaggio a four-time champion when he was only 24 years old. DiMaggio finished the 1939 Major League season with a .380 batting average leading him to win his first (MVP) award. 

In 1941, DiMaggio set his most famous record with his 56 game hitting streak, breaking right fielder, Wee Willie Keeler on the Baltimore Orioles, 44 game hitting streak, set in 1897, leading DiMaggio to win his second (MVP) award. 

In 1943, DiMaggio enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces due to World War II, causing him to miss the next three Major League seasons. He returned in 1946 and won his third (MVP) award in 1947, which would be the final (MVP) award of his career. In 1949, he signed a $100,000 contract making him the first baseball player to sign a contract over $100,000. 

In 1951, he announced his retirement at the age of 37 years old. At the press conference, DiMaggio told reporters, “I feel like I have reached the stage where I can no longer produce for my club, my manager, and my teammates. I had a poor year, but even if I had hit .350, this would have been my last year. I was full of aches and pains and it had become a chore for me to play. When baseball is no longer fun, it’s no longer a game, and so, I’ve played my last game.” 

In 1952, the Yankees retired number 5, in honor of Joe DiMaggio’s career. Joe DiMaggio was elected to the National Baseball Hall Of Fame in 1955. He is considered the greatest right handed hitter in baseball history.