Centerfielder Joe DiMaggio (1914–1999) was born to play baseball. “If you keep thinking about what you want to do or what you hope will happen,” he said, “you don’t do it, and it won’t happen.”

Born Joseph Paul DiMaggio in the fishing village of Martinez, California, the son of Italian immigrants, he gained fame not only for his extraordinary play but also for his unforgettable marriage to actress Marilyn Monroe.

“Joltin’ Joe” inherited the hero crown passed down from Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. He led the Yankees to 10 American League pennants and nine World Series championships. His 13-season career was punctuated by three years of military service during World War II.

DiMaggio became a symbol of grace from what songwriter Paul Simon later called an “innocent time,” immortalized in Mrs. Robinson: “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.”

Quiet, polite, and fluid in motion, he hit safely in 56 consecutive games—a record that still stands. About his devotion to excellence, he said, “There is always some kid who may be seeing me for the first time or last time. I owe him my best.”

In 1992, the beloved “Yankee Clipper” founded the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida. His vision continues: high-quality care for every child, regardless of ability to pay.