Sports 1941: Joe Di Maggio’s Batting Streak EndsAfter 56 Games

Streak Ended

As it must to all streaks, an end came at last to Joe Di Maggio’s batting spree. In a night game in Cleveland’s vast Municipal Stadium, just two months and two days after starting the longest batting streak in the history of major-league baseball, Joe went hitless.

In 56 successive league games, the crack Yankee Clipper had gone to bat 223 times, had made 91 hits (including 15 homers, four triples, 16 doubles) for a total of 160 bases.

Last week, against Cleveland’s slick Southpaw Al Smith and Righthandy Jim Bagby (who relieved Smith in the eighth), Di Maggio failed to get a ball past the infield. Off Smith, he grounded out twice and drew a walk. Off Bagby, he hit smack into a double play.

Said Joe, expelling his long-held breath: “I’m tickled to death it’s all over.”