Bestselling author Jonah Winter and award-winning illustrator James E.
Ransome knock it out of the park with this tribute to one of the
greatest baseball players who ever lived, Joe DiMaggio.
In the golden age of baseball, sports announcers ruled the radio,
winning and losing was front-page news, and just about every young boy
wanted to grow up to wear Yankee pinstripes, including Giuseppe Paolo
DiMaggio, Jr., a first generation Italian from San Francisco.
"Baseball is not a job," said young Joe's dad, but through hard work and
dedication, Joe grew up to make headlines as a top centerfielder and ace
hitter--Joltin' Joe, the Yankee Clipper. And when the paychecks started
rolling in and the newspaper reporters wouldn't stop calling, you can
bet Pop was mighty proud!
During the Depression and WWII the country needed something to cheer
for, and Joe was the star player who outshone the rest, even marrying
movie star Marilyn Monroe--all by keeping his mouth shut and his eye on
the ball.