RIP Dom DiMaggio (1917-2009)

An excellent player (seven-time All Star) and one of the game's real gentlemen, Dom should be in the Hall, many people feel. Beyond that, I think my favorite moment from the Halberstam bestseller was learning that one of Ted Williams' most frequent cries in the outfield was "You got it, Dommie, you got it!"

The AP story:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090508/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbo_obit_dom_dimaggio

"While Dom did not have the offensive numbers of Joe, he was generally regarded as a better defensive player with a stronger arm. The younger DiMaggio led the American League in assists three times, putouts twice and double plays twice.

He was a career .298 hitter with 87 home runs, while Joe was a .325 career hitter with 361 homers. Dom's baseball career was interrupted for three years (1943-45) by World War II when he served in the Navy, a military obligation that may have cost him induction into the Hall of Fame, Doerr once said.

DiMaggio and Pesky "were really penalized for that, and I think it was kind of a shame in a way because when you look, they have the numbers," Doerr said in August 2007 during an appearance at Fenway Park. "