Dom's brother, Joe, "The Yankee Clipper," hit safely in 56 consecutive games, his best friend, Ted Williams, "The Splendid Splinter," became the last man to hit over .400 (.406) and he also hit a dramatic, three run homer (in the last of the 9th) as the American league defeated the National league 7-5 in the all-star game. The world series, between the Yankees and Dodgers, supplied its own historical moment when Dodger catcher, Mickey Owen, dropped a third strike (that would have ended the game) and cost the Dodgers the series.
The world was on the brink of WWII but, for this season, all eyes were on the happenings of this great baseball season. "For years there had been a wonderful "sameness" about baseball. Schoolboys learned their geography by knowing the ten cities and the 16 teams of the American and National leagues," said Dom in his book. But all that was about to change just two short months after the season was over and the USA entered WWII. Nothing much has ever been written about that incredible season up until now . Fortunately, Dom DiMaggio, (the man with the best perspective) was willing to step forward and chronicle, for posterity, the greatest baseball season EVER.
"I'm very proud of Dom for being willing to take on this huge task," said his lifelong buddy and teammate, Ted Williams. He had a terrific career and could have written his autobiography instead, and made a lot of money, as players (whose careers were nowhere as good his) had done before. But Dom, instead, chose to write about this unique season. That shows what a special person Dom DiMaggio is and what a special season 1941 was," Ted concluded, proudly.
I was just a little kid from East Boston in the 40's. Ted, Dom, Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr were our heroes but my treatment of this great work is by no means influenced by the fondness that I have for Dom or the others. There is no criticism here for it is only one man's accounting of the mood of the country, the culture and happenings of the sport he loved and the men (most of them legendary hall-of-famers) who played it. Dom brings you right there with greatly illuminated descriptions of everyday life in Baseball (and our country) and does it in such a way that you actually feel like you have been transported back to those great days. A time when the game WAS actually played on real grass. (not astroturf) and the heroes were real heroes, not drug-users who could hit the ball 600 feet. Can you imagine a time when there was no air conditioning (except for theaters and some restaurants), Automatic ransmisions, as well as radios, had just been introduced to automobiles, teams traveled by train (not planes) between cities and there were very few night games. When the only arguments with your dad were who was better, Ted or Joe. Bleacher seats were only .50 cents and, a couple times a year, the Sox or Braves had "family night" and we could all go for $6 or $7 total. Plus there were "ladies nights" when Mom got in FREE. And, lest I forget, there was also the "knot-hole gang" where kids got in the parks, on Saturdays, for .05 cents. One nickle. Can you imagine that? Hotdogs were .25, soda was .10 and a bag of roasted peanuts was a dime. The subway was .05 for kids who usually ducked under the turnstyles while the toll-takers pretended they didn't see them. And up in the third base grandstand at both Fenway Park and Braves field was a pre-game radio show, hosted by Jerry O'Leary, and sponsored by Waleeco candy bars. If selected you were asked four baseball trivia questions with a chance to win a "big silver dollar" for each correct answer. If you got all four correctly you got FIVE silver dollars. Every contestant got a full box of Waleeco candy bars. Those were great days and everlasting memories.
Dom starts off with his minor league experiences following on the heels of his brother Joe and playing against future teammate Ted Williams. His first spring training and how it felt playing with huge starts like Jimmy Foxx and Lefty Grove as well as "Teddy Ballgame" who had just came off a fantastic rookie season. Along the way you'll read about Johnny Van Dermeer's two consecutive no-hitters, the birth of night baseball, the coming of TV broadcasting baseball games and what the players did to pass the time on those long train trips between games. Different, some very innovative, ways to keep cool in those blistering hot days in Washington, St. Louis and Chicago and an interesting trip with Teddy to the home of the Louisville Sluggers where their bats were made. There's also some little known stories like the time brother Joe's bat was stolen between games of a double header in Washington. He had tied George Sisler's modern day record of hitting safely in 41 straight in the first game but had to borrow a bat from teammate Tommy Heinrich in the night-cap to break it. There were more stories along the route to the celebrated "56" that Dom talks about being sure to mention all the many players (and broadcasters), in detail, that make up baseballs's storied history. He also, very skillfully, fits in the famous movies, radio shows and their famous characters of that year that have gone on to become another part of American history. He even inserts the prices of clothing and the exploits of famous people of 1941 in such a way that it doesn't sound like the gossip columns of today but rather gives you an armchair seat, as a witness to the everyday life and times of that famous baseball season.
Mickey Rooney became engaged to Ava Gardner, Tommy Manville, heir to the Johns-Manville asbestos company fortune, made news by marrying a showgirl named Bonita then divorcing her 17 days later. There was a new comedy team, Abbot and Costello starring in "Buck Privates," Betty Grable and Tyrone Power starred in "A Yank In The RAF," and a soon to be famous Carmen Miranda made a splash in "That Night In Rio," by wearing a pile of fruit on her head.
All these things were chronicled by Dom to give one the feel of being there. He also cleverly intermingles stories of the surrounding couple of years that were eventful and descriptive of famous people and events. How night baseball came about, televised baseball games, and even the REAL mood of the ballplayers themselves when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier. (Almost all the players were supportive of Robinson, even the southern boys, contrary to much media hyped stories). DiMaggio goes on to tell of his teammates, from his rookie season to his first (only) world series. You'll see that Johnny Pesky WAS NOT at fault (contrary to the media's incorrect accountings) for allowing Enos "Country" Slaughter to score from first base with the series winning run.
His story of his first person to person meeting of the great "Lefty" Grove is priceless and very moving. It tells volumes of both players, the legend and the rookie, and gives a little seen peek at the private and personal feelings of Grove, contrary to what was written about him.
He also tells some personal experiences of his teammates, Teddy Ballgame, Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr. The way they inter-reacted with each other and the lighter side of Ted's supposed gruff exterior which is, as many have eventually found out, to just "be his way." He was just like John Wayne's characters but, upon the two legends meeting Wayne said to Ted, "All MY exploits were written strictly for the movies, but YOU actually DID them. YOU'RE the real American hero."
I could go on forever but I'd be taking away your joy of reading the book since Dom tells it much better than I can condense it. And much of my stories would be mixed with personal experiences or those stories I've heard through the years from talking to these guys. In future I'll tell you of some of my interviews with them which are loaded with inside stories, some of which very few have heard.
My favorite interview was my first one with Ted. It was at spring training in 1983 and I was very nervous. I was talking to Pesky the night before and he advised me: "Write down six or seven strictly baseball questions, ask it then shut your mouth and listen, he'll do all the talking, and make sure you're a half hour early." Well I was 50 minutes early and Teddy was already there. (he was impressed and said so) An hour later, as we finished up, we saw Pesky and he asked how things went. Ted said, "You know this guy, really knows his baseball doesn't he?" Johnny just smiled but, to me, that was one of the greatest sports moments of my life.....Stay tuned for more stories.....