Fabulous and Brunette: Tales of the Yankee Clipper: Stories and Reflections on Joe DiMaggio by Jonathan Weeks - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway

Tales of the Yankee Clipper:

Stories and Reflections on Joe DiMaggio

by Jonathan Weeks

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GENRE: Non-Fiction Sports Biography

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BOOK BLURB:

There has probably never been a professional baseball player more of a puzzle than Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio had a talent for keeping his emotions suppressed and his innermost thoughts to himself. Few could say that they really knew him. And even the ones who did found him to be unpredictable. He was a walking contradiction. He was quiet, but not necessarily shy. He could be both gracious and abrupt, approachable or aloof depending on the situation. Although he came across as humble, he had a tremendous sense of entitlement. He was complex, secretive, inscrutable. There were many layers to the man who came to be affectionately known as the “Yankee Clipper.” DiMaggio always felt that his actions on the field should do the talking for him. And for the most part, they did. To many, DiMaggio personified elegance, style, and grace. An impeccable dresser, he was married to two glamorous actresses. On the field, he glided almost effortlessly, never having to dive for a ball and rarely (if ever) making a mistake on the basepaths. He became the living embodiment of the American dream and a symbol of the country’s so-called “greatest generation.” But as time marched on, DiMaggio grew increasingly distrustful of the people around him. It was understandable—inevitable even. The third book in Jonathan Week’s Yankees trilogy contains an abundance of anecdotes, statistics, and other little known facts about the Yankee Clipper.

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EXCERPT TWO:

YANKEE STALKER

While recovering from an injury at the beginning of the 1949 campaign, DiMaggio began receiving love notes from a woman he was not acquainted with. At the same time, letters started turning up at the offices of various New York gossip columnists. They were signed by a woman calling herself “Junior Standish,” who claimed to be in a romantic relationship with the Yankee slugger. DiMaggio was familiar with a Broadway dancer of the same name, but had never actually dated her. When a handful of columnists reported that the two had become a couple, DiMaggio and Standish both made public statements to the contrary.

The plot thickened when the mysterious letter-writer attempted to make contact with DiMaggio at his hotel. After being turned away, she sent a note threatening suicide if her efforts to meet him were thwarted in the future. Alarmed by this turn of events, Yankee PR-man Arthur Patterson contacted the police and enlisted the help of a bodyguard to protect Joe.

While police were investigating the matter, another note containing suicidal threats was delivered to DiMaggio’s hotel room. Hoping to produce some tangible leads regarding the author’s identity, details were leaked to the press. A 30-year-old woman was eventually taken into custody. While being interrogated by the assistant district attorney in Manhattan, she suffered a mental breakdown, screaming hysterically and threatening to kill herself. Police transported her to a Bronx hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Doctors agreed to release her into the custody of her father on the condition that she seek counseling and leave DiMaggio alone. She agreed to the arrangement and never bothered Joe again. Her identity was not disclosed to the press.

Incidents of a darker nature had plagued major-league baseball on prior occasions. A few weeks before DiMaggio’s stalker was taken into custody, a 19-year-old office worker named Ruth Steinhagen shot Phillies’ first baseman Eddie Waitkus in a Chicago hotel room. The troubled teen, who had developed an unhealthy obsession with Waitkus, ended up in a state psychiatric hospital, where she remained for three years. Waitkus recovered and played six more seasons. A similar scene had unfolded in 1932, when Cubs shortstop Billy Jurges was shot at the Carlos Hotel in Chicago by a showgirl named Violet Popovich. Jurges had broken off a casual relationship with Popovich, prompting her to behave irrationally. The infielder was shot twice—once in the hand and again in the ribs—but returned to action that year. He played in the majors until 1948.

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GUEST POST:

There are so many engaging stories about Joe DiMaggio it’s difficult for me to settle on one favorite. But in the interest of captivating readers who may not be die-hard fans of the sport, there is one generic tale that comes to mind. This particular anecdote can be found at the end of Part II in my book and is entitled Steinbrenner’s Failed Murder Plot.

Born into a wealthy family, Yankee owner George Steinbrenner lived a life of privilege. After making a fortune as CEO of the American Ship Building Company, he assembled a group of financiers to purchase the Yankees from CBS. Although the Yankees won several World Series titles during Steinbrenner’s tenure, his time with the club was wrought with controversy. Fickle and tempestuous, he went through more than a dozen managers between 1973 and 1990. His favorite victim was Billy Martin, who he fired and rehired several times. In 1974, Steinbrenner was suspended for making illegal contributions to President Richard Nixon’s reelection campaign. Another suspension followed in the early-‘90s after he paid a Bronx gambler to dig up dirt on one of his players.

Despite his problems with other Yankee personalities, Steinbrenner was particularly fond of DiMaggio. He believed that Joltin’ Joe was a good luck charm and, when the Yankees made the playoffs in 1996, he made sure that DiMaggio attended all of the home games. He even let Joe sit in the owner’s box.

Steinbrenner wanted to commission a statue of DiMaggio to be put in center field at Yankee Stadium. He also sought to have a DiMaggio statue erected in Central Park. In order to complete both projects, he needed Joe’s permission. The retired Yankee slugger stubbornly rejected the proposal, commenting, “As long as I am still walking, there is no way I will have anyone build a statue of me in this city. When I’m dead, they can do whatever the hell they want.” Joe had declined similar offers from New York City officials, who reportedly wanted to rename East 56th Street and the Major Deegan Expressway in his honor.

Shortly after Steinbrenner’s statue proposal, DiMaggio was invited to Yankee Stadium to watch a game in the owner’s box. George always went to great lengths to make Joe feel comfortable. All of the Yankee idol’s favorite beverages and snacks were readily available. On this particular occasion, Steinbrenner had added a new Philly cheese steak vendor. He raved about the quality of the sandwiches and insisted that Joe sample one. DiMaggio was very particular about what kind of foods he would eat, but eventually agreed. After finishing his sandwich, Joe complained of stomach discomfort and asked his companion to bring him home immediately.

Joe’s friend ignored multiple traffic laws getting him back to his apartment in haste. Upon arriving, Joe rushed off to the bathroom in obvious discomfort. “I don’t know what the hell Steinbrenner fed me,” he said from behind the bathroom door, “but I think he’s trying to kill me so he can put up that statue of me in center field.”

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AUTHOR BIO:

Jonathan Weeks has written several sports biographies and two novels, one of which was a posthumous collaboration with his father. He grew up in the Capital District region of New York State and currently works in the mental health field.

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CONNECT WITH JONATHAN:

Blog:

http://www.jonathanweeks.blogspot.com

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/5862273.Jonathan_Weeks

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