Description:
The most elegant Yankee of them all, DiMaggio's been baseball's virtual bridge between the era of myth and the dawn of the 21st century. As a ballplayer, his magical feats speak for themselves; as a man, he's defined by an aloofness that only cements his legend. DiMaggio doesn't set out to tell the complexity of DiMaggio's story; it is more of an affectionate scrapbook crammed with commemorative photos and celebratory prose. The pictures extend from his minor-league days with the San Francisco Seals through his Yankee years of glory and military service, his marriage to Marilyn Monroe, and his postbaseball status as both icon and eminence grise. The accompanying essays are quite good, particularly Dwight Chapin on DiMaggio's Seals' career, Harold Rosenthal on his arrival in New York, Leonard Koppett on his All-Star Game appearances, and Marty Noble on DiMaggio's status as linchpin in the chain of Yankee excellence. Memorabilia buffs should relish the section on DiMaggio collectibles. Baseball buffs will relish the rest. --Jeff Silverman
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