Sport: The Old Pro

The World Champion New York Yankees efficiently set about winning their third straight World Series last week. Even up after four games, they made it look easy in the fifth game (13-1); they did it the hard way in the sixth (4-3). But, as usual,* they did it (4 games to 2). And, as usual, Old Pro Joe DiMaggio made the difference.

Hitless in the first three games, Joe talked his troubles over with Old Slugger Lefty O’Doul. O’Doul told Joe that he was taking his eye off the ball and swinging high. Joe changed his stance, and the Yankees began to roll. In the fourth game, DiMaggio exploded with a single and a homer. In the fifth, he connected for two singles, setting the stage for Rookie Infielder Gil McDougald’s grand-slam homer, and smacked a two-run double that completed the worst World Series rout in 15 years.

The Ultimate Compliment. In the sixth game, the Giant pitchers paid DiMaggio the ultimate compliment. Twice, with runners on base, Joe got an intentional walk so that the Giants could pitch to McDougald. The first time, the strategy worked. But in the sixth inning, after DiMaggio’s second pass, Johnny Mize walked and Outfielder Hank Bauer punched out a long triple that put the Yankees ahead, 4-1. In his final turn at bat,† Joe blasted another double, then was out trying to take third on a bunt. It was a sloppy play and nothing to cheer about, but as DiMaggio jogged from the field, the crowd, sensing that they might be seeing Joe in action for the last time, rose to its feet and gave him a rousing ovation.

The Giants never gave up, pushed across two runs in the ninth, had the tying run on second. But with no DiMaggio to give them the scoring punch, the Giants could not quite make it. Rightfielder Bauer, with a skidding, diving catch, came up with the ball for the final out.

After the game, Yankee Manager Casey Stengel gave Joe a heartfelt slap on the back. “Without you,” said Casey, “we couldn’t have done it.” But last week, packing in preparation for a barnstorming trip to Korea, DiMaggio said the words that Stengel and his teammates hated to hear: “I’ve made up my mind to retire.”

The Picture Player. If Joe meant what he said, he was writing the end to a 16-year career that had made the youngster from the San Francisco fishing wharfs a public idol almost overnight. Modest to the point of reticence, and a moody introvert at times, Joe has always lacked the flash and dash of a Babe Ruth or a Ty Cobb; he was a perfectionist of the diamond, a picture player in the Frank Chance tradition. No catch ever looked tough, the way Joe loped up and cradled it. No stance at the plate—bat poised and feet widespread—was ever so widely imitated. None could match the easy swinger who banged out 361 homers, played on ten world championship teams.

Now, just a month short of 37, with the bounce gone out of his legs, the zip out of his arm, and a bit of the bang out of his bat, Joe could still play the game—from memory—better than most outfielders. He obviously wanted to call it quits while he was still on top. But, like most champions, he could not quite bring himself to the final exit. On Yankee President Dan Topping’s urging, he agreed to think it over before making up his mind for good.

*In 30 years, the Yankees have won 18 pennants, 14 World Series. † Joe’s 199th in his 51st series game, breaking Frank Frisch’s records of 197 at-bats, 50 series games.