Joe DiMaggio
The 56-game hitting streak isn't just baseball's most famous record — it's the sport's most untouchable. DiMaggio's 1941 feat feels more mythical with each passing season, as no one has come within 12 games of matching it since Pete Rose in 1978.
Beyond the streak, the Yankee Clipper was remarkably consistent greatness. That .325 career average came with elite power (361 homers) and clutch hitting (1537 RBIs) across just 13 seasons, interrupted by three years of military service. He struck out only 369 times in his entire career — fewer than many modern players manage in two seasons.
DiMaggio's nine World Series titles in 13 seasons speak to his winning impact. Three MVP awards barely capture his dominance during baseball's golden age, when he stood alongside Ted Williams as the game's premier offensive force.
Career · Batting
13 seasons| Year | Team | G | AB | HR | RBI | AVG | OPS | OPS+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 | NYY | 138 | 637 | 29 | 125 | .323 | — | — |
| 1937 | NYY | 151 | 621 | 46 | 167 | .346 | — | — |
| 1938 | NYY | 145 | 599 | 32 | 140 | .324 | — | — |
| 1939 | NYY | 120 | 462 | 30 | 126 | .381 | — | — |
| 1940 | NYY | 132 | 508 | 31 | 133 | .352 | — | — |
| 1941 | NYY | 139 | 541 | 30 | 125 | .357 | — | — |
| 1942 | NYY | 154 | 610 | 21 | 114 | .305 | — | — |
| 1946 | NYY | 132 | 503 | 25 | 95 | .290 | — | — |
| 1947 | NYY | 141 | 534 | 20 | 97 | .315 | — | — |
| 1948 | NYY | 153 | 594 | 39 | 155 | .320 | — | — |
| 1949 | NYY | 76 | 272 | 14 | 67 | .346 | — | — |
| 1950 | NYY | 139 | 525 | 32 | 122 | .301 | — | — |
| 1951 | NYY | 116 | 415 | 12 | 71 | .263 | — | — |
| Career | 1736 | 6821 | 361 | 1537 | .325 | — | — | |
Matchups, projections, comps — grounded in Lahman, Retrosheet, and Statcast.