R.I.P. Dominic Dimaggio

One of the four Teammates, Dominic Dimaggio, died last night while watching a replay of Thursday's Sox game, a game which we won 13-3 after the Sox scored 12 runs in one inning before recording one out. Always played in the shadow of Joe, but was a better fielder with a stronger arm; and a far better, kinder person. Of the 4, Bobby "The Silent Captain" Doerr and Johnny "Needlenose" Pesky are still with us. Ted "The Kid" Williams died in 2002.

A lifetime .298 hitter, Dimaggio was called "The Little Professor" for his small size and bespectacled eyes, at a time when eyeglasses were rarely worn by professional baseball players. He also holds the Red Sox hitting streak record at 34 games. During his playing years, center field bleacher fans would chant: "He's better than his brother Joe - Dominic Dimaggio." It became a popular phrase in Boston during the 50s. His prowess in the outfield was legendary, so much so that even Ted Williams would yell "You get it, Dom, you get it!" when fly balls were launched toward left-center field at Fenway Park. After retirement, as the years passed on, Williams lobbied fiercly for Dominic's acceptance into the Hall of Fame, without success. In his autobiography, Williams said it was one of the game's biggest tragedies.

Dominic Paul DiMaggio, 1917-2009