It was about time I got Joltin’ Joe in on Monday.
Taking a look at DiMaggio’s stats, I was impressed by one thing. Every year he played in the majors, he was on the All-Star team and all but one year, he was in the running for the MVP (the lowest he got in the voting was 19th).
This card was from his 1937 campaign, his second season in his career. He already was making a splash with big numbers bating .346. He led the AL with 151 runs and 46 homeruns. Not only that, he reached the 400 mark in total bases with 418. Only 11 players have had more TB in one season (it amazes me that Luis Gonzalez is one of them).
| Split | G | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 Totals | 151 | 692 | 621 | 151 | 215 | 35 | 15 | 46 | 167 | 3 | 64 | 37 | .346 | .412 | .673 |
APBA rewarded him with indeed a Monster Card. He has power numbers through 55 with 1-1-3-5-5-6. Watch out with a runner on second base. APBA added two sevens, two eights and two nines though it is interesting that they “skipped” the 42 and put a 14 there instead.
For a power hitter, DiMaggio was not a free-swinger. In his career, he struck out only 369 times in 6821 at-bats. His 1937 season was was one of his worst years for striking out (37 times) but that only calculates to two 13s as far as APBA is concerned. Interesting that one of those 13s is located at the 14.
I’m not a Red Sox fan, but personally, I’ve always harbored a grudge against DiMaggio who ‘stole’ Ted Williams’ MVP in 1941. Williams wasn’t good with the press and DiMaggio thrived under the lights. But honestly, I can’t deny DiMaggio’s talent and consistency. It didn’t take long for him to get noticed either.
Here’s an interesting note in a time when sportswriters are arguing over Jack Morris’ Hall of Fame credentials. In Dimaggio’s day the Hall of Fame was reserved for the elite of the elite. It’s hard to imagine today, but Dimaggio was not elected to the Hall in his first year of eligibility.
As far as the Williams thing goes, during their playing days Dimaggio was much more popular with the media but after they retired that all changed. Williams came to be seen as the loveable curmudgeon and Dimaggio was looked at as a jerk. I’m not sure what brought about the change but I find it very interesting.
Great ballplayer. He was a right-handed hitter when the Yankee Stadium dimensions were were brutal to righties. I read a story once that told of a long night of drinking an an agreement between the Red Sox and Yankees to trade Dimaggio for Williams. The next morning the teams came to their senses and changed their minds but can you imagine Williams hitting in Yankee Stadium with the short porch in right and Dimaggio taking aim at the Green Monster in Fenway?
Craig,
Supposedly the trade got nixed after Boston GM asked for a throw in. The requested throw in was Yogi Berra. Not sure about the truth in this though.
Regarding Morris HOF credentials I have seen many who more or less belong in the “Hall of VERY GOOD, or Hall of VERY POPULAR” but not HOF. I would like to see some of the earlier closers get more votes, espically Lee Smith who was as dominant as they came in his time.
Great card! That is from the original issue GTOP, WAY before the 42 was used.
Merry Christmas!
Ron
A great card!
One of only 6 cards (Full-Time) cards that I own that have a 6 (Single Column) on 55.
1921 – Babe Ruth
1917 – Lou Gehrig
1930 – Al Simmons
1931 – Josh Gibson
1937 – Joe DiMaggio
1995 – Albert Belle
Very interesting, I thought maybe Hank Greenberg might have had a 6 on 55, I guess not.
Could someone explain why Medwick’s ’37 card has 5 power numbers with 674 plate appearances and 97 EXBHs and DiMaggio’s ’37 card has 6 power numbers with 685 plate appearances and 96 EXBHs. I haven’t played APBA since the middle ’80’s, but miss the experiences to this day. Thanks