Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life (Touchstone Book)
Page 65
On the wider world of Joe D., I was fortunate to have the help and friendship of two men, Barry Halper and Jerry Romolt, whose knowledge of Joe was both long-standing and acute. I am also grateful for the help of Joe’s friends Woody Allen, Dick and Kathy Burke, Jean Doumanian, Mario Faustini, Gianni Garavelli, Bernie Kamber, Henry Kissinger, Lola Mason, Dr. Rock Positano, Nat Recine, and Frank Scott. I send thanks to the eminent chairman of William Morris Agency, Norman Brokaw, whose friendship with Joe went back fifty years (since the days when Brokaw was trying to find work for a fetching young actress named Marilyn Monroe). I was also aided by information from Harry Bryant, Marsha Davidson, Joyce Hadley, Lillian Hershey, Steve Hissler, George Milman, John Palumbo, Ralph Peck, Bill Rodman, Ruth Roman, Nat Rosasco, and Dan Shedrick. On Joe’s New York, I extend thanks to Frank Giuffreda, Sonny Grosso, Xavier Recigno, Pat Terzano, Judge Edwin Torres, Claire Trimble, and Myles Wilson. I owe special gratitude to Bob Solotaire for the beauty of his recollections and his photographs. On Toots Shor’s in particular, I am grateful to Jerry Berns at 21, to Alice Effrat, Bill Fugazi, Frank Gifford, Christy Jacobson, Harry Lavin, Irving Rudd, Terry Smith, and Bert Sugar. I also derived valuable information from two books: Toots, by Bob Considine, and The Wonderful World of Toots Shor, by John Bainbridge. On the topic of Joe’s doings in Newark, I owe thanks to Leonard Ceres and Fanny DiDonna, to Michael Immerso (and his book, Newark’s Little Italy: The Vanished First Ward), to Geta and Bina Spatola (and their wonderful scrapbook), to Mark A. Stuart (and his book Gangster #2: Longy Zwillman, the Man Who Invented Organized Crime). On Joe’s life in Florida, I thank Thelma Beck, Joe Camilleri, Bob Cantrell, Sid Luckman, Joe Nacchio, Richard Rosenberg, Murray Sharan, Dave Sweeney, Al Tordella, Pauline Winick, and Dr. Lloyd Wruble. Within Joe’s nationwide network, I gratefully acknowledge Milt Beaver, Bob Boffa, Sr., Sam Brody, Harry Hall, Eddie Liberatore, David Monette, Nick Nicolosi, George Randazzo, and Manny Rossen.
On the subject of the Seals and the PCL, I thank Steve Barath, Joe Buzas, Art Dikas, Tony Gomez, Eddie Joost, Bill Lillard, Larry “Lefty” Powell, Bill Raimondi, Gussie Suhr. Also, I am indebted to the historians Richard Beverage, Dick Dobbins, Alan Lubke; to Richard Leutzinger and his book, Lefty O’Doul: The Legend That Baseball Nearly Forgot; to Bill Swank and his book, Echoes from Lane Field. I also found valuable information in Runs, Hits and an Era by Paul J. Zingg and Mark Madeiros.
On the topic of the Yankees, I was aided by Marty Appel, Rick Cerrone, Nick Priori, Arthur Richman, and last but never least, George Steinbrenner. I was also fortunate to have the help of two distinguished batboys: Thad Mumford and Bert Padell (both of whom, in later life, made good in other rackets). I’m also grateful for the help of a Hall of Fame broadcast team, Curt Gowdy and Mel Allen (who spent his last Sunday on earth with me). I also benefited from the work of Milton Gross in Yankee Doodles, and Harvey Frommer, who wrote The Yankee Encyclopedia. In addition, I would like to thank for their kindness to me: Rugger Ardizoia, Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra, Frenchy and Vicki Bordagaray, Bobby Brown, Tommy Byrne, Jerry Coleman, Charlie Devens, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Ferrick, Whitey Ford, Randy Gumpert, Buddy Hassett, Ralph Houk, Reggie Jackson, Mrs. Martha Keller, Clarence Marshall, Gil McDougald, Duane Pillette, Phil Rizzuto, Marius Russo, Art Schallock, Frank “Spec” Shea, Charlie Silvera, Moose Skowron, Enos “Country” Slaughter, Ed Stewart, Jim Turner, Butch Wensloff, Bill Wight, Hank Workman, and especially Tom and Eileen Henrich.
From the wider world of baseball, I am grateful to Johnny Babich, Eddie Bockman, Ralph Branca, Dolph Camilli, Pete Coscarart, Brandy Davis, Joe Foss, Joe Garagiola, Joey Goldstein, Dave Kaplan, Bob Lemon, Larry Lucchino, Ken Nigro, Dino Restelli, Broadway Charlie Wagner, and Al Zarilla. I got my first lessons on big-league life while I cowered at the knee of the great Ted Williams: for those lessons and for his example, I now send thanks to him. I learned a great deal from Kevin Kerrane’s loving anatomy of the scouting life, Dollar Sign on the Muscle. I was guided on questions of major league fact by two stupendous volumes: The Baseball Encyclopedia from Macmillan, and Total Baseball. I also went to school on Leo Durocher’s Nice Guys Finish Last; on Robert E. Hood’s The Gashouse Gang; on Ray Robinson’s The Iron Horse; on Curt Smith’s Voices of the Game; on G. Edward White’s Creating the National Pastime; and on three fine books by Robert W. Creamer—Babe: The Legend Comes to Life, Stengel: His Life and Times, and Baseball in ’41. I was informed and inspired by pieces and collections from Roger Angell; by several compendia: The Fireside Book(s) of Baseball, The Armchair Book of Baseball; and by oral histories: The Glory of Their Times, We Played the Game. In that genre, one book was a recurring source of delight: Jerome Holtzman’s No Cheering in the Press Box. I would also salute The Long Season and Pennant Race, by Jim Brosnan, the first author who spoke to me in the voice of the game. Within the commissioner’s office, I owe special thanks to Rich and Susan Levin, to Frank Slocum, and to the ex-commish Faye Vincent. I owe great thanks to the curators and librarians at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. And while I’m in town, I also send thanks to Joan and Ed Badgely and their distinguished son-in-law, Craig Timberg.
I was helped, propelled, bawled out, and encouraged by dozens of journalists on sports and lesser topics. In San Francisco, I salute the late Herb Caen, who popularized Joe’s local nickname, “Fishhooks” (because he must have hooks in his pocket—that’s why he’d never put his hand in there). I was lucky to be taken around town by Harry Jupiter of the Examiner, and I am grateful for the help of his colleagues on that paper, Bucky Walters, Dwight Chapin, Paul Wilner, and Judy Canter. I am also thankful for the help of Art and Jack Rosenbaum, Bob Stevens, and Ron Fimrite. In New York, I was aided by a group of eminent practitioners: Marty Glickman, Bill Mazer, Allan Barra, Art Rust, Dick Schaap at ABC Sports, Bob Faw at NBC News, and Charlie Rose from PBS, who graciously spoke up for me with sources who could be of help. The columnist Jack Newfield generously helped me on the topic of Jimmy Cannon. Jimmy Breslin was of help on every topic that came to mind. From the Times, I thank Blaine Harden, Ira Berkow, and Buster Olney. At the Daily News, I was fortunate to have help from Bill Gallo, from Michael Daly, Vic Ziegel, Joanna Molloy, and from my partners in crime, Bill Madden and Luke Cyphers. At the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, Mack Daniels and Glenn Scott were generous with me, as was the kind and able head of that paper’s library, Ann Johnson. I owe thanks to Ellen Warren at the Chicago Tribune, to Tom Fiedler and Edwin Pope at the Miami Herald, to Gordon Edes, who was (at the time) with the Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale. And in Washington, I was kindly helped by Ben Bradlee, Carl Cannon, Richard Cohen, and Bob Woodward. In addition, I was aided by information from several distinguished senior sportswriters: John M. Ross in Connecticut, Bill Heinz in Vermont, Leonard Koppett in California, and Shirley Povich in Washington. I was grateful also for encouragement from the dean of my local sporting press, John Steadman. And atop my list of prominenti, one man stands alone: Harold Rosenthal, the graceful writer for the Herald Tribune, was so kind to me, so helpful, and so full of fun, that my great regret at the close of this book is not having him at the party.
Apart from libraries at the Hall of Fame, and the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, I also extend thanks to the New York Public Library; to Faye Thompson at the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; to Margaret Goosetray and Howard B. Gotlieb at the Department of Special Collections of the Boston University Libraries. Also, to the libraries at the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the Los Angeles Times. Lisa Davis was kind enough to share with me the fruits of her own research on the life of Joe DiMaggio. In addition, I received great research help from Heesoo Coue, from Anya Richards, and my comrade in arms Noah Gordon. The story herein was vastly enriched by the work of Laura McKellar, who was associate producer on the PBS documentary that was based on this book, and who towed into port rafts of information that I greedily plundered. I am also grateful for transcription help from Elizabeth Janega, and for the fine work of Shelly Coleman, who helped me make sense
of the material I brought home.
I knew this book had run too long when the ladies of my small town started showing up with dishes of food (as they would for any illness in the house)—but they are emblematic of the friends and supporters who aided this project in every way. So, for advice and information, for kindness, encouragement, for free drinks, dinners, or guest beds, I thank Virginia and Peter Allen, Louise Avidon, Rachel and Stu Axelrod, Ben and Minnie Balter, Tony Barbieri, Joe Bargmann, Mike Blackman, Nicki Britton, President and Mrs. William Brody of the Johns Hopkins University, Dan and Marge Brook, Martha Bunn, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Chris Calhoun, Nancy Cardozo, Lee and John Carroll, Bob Coleman, Dennis Coleman, Judy Cramer, Lina Cramer, Marguerite Del Giudice, Paul Downey, Walter Dubler, Nate and Richard Durning, Bill Eddins, Don Eliason, Edgar and Faith Feingold, Earl and Eli Fendelman, Gene Foreman, David Carr Frank, Steve Friedman, Gary Hart, Lee Hendrickson, Tom Hendrickson, David Hirshey, Gerri Hirshey, Courtney Hodell, Jody Hotchkiss, Margo Howard, John Irvin, Mark Jacobson, Rob Janega, Professor Christopher Janney, Mary Janney, Beverly and Jonathan Jones, Susan Kamil, Connie Kaplan, Dave Kaplan, Dave Keating, Dan Kelson, Kristin Kimball, Ed Kosner, Tom Kunkel, Buddy and Elfrieda Lackritz, Terrell Lamb, Simon and June Li, Ron Liebman, Tom Lockner, Woody and Shirley Loller, Sterling Lord, David and Linda Maraniss, Michael Maren, Peter Matson, Bill McAuliffe, Jim McBride, Terry McDonnell, Jean McGarry, Joe McGovern, Emily McKellar, Jim Naughton, Dr. Helen and Ken Noble, Mark Obenhaus, Peter Osnos, Michael Pakenham, Emma Pearce, Bill Powers, Carol and Rachel Powers, and the late Chuck Powers, whom I miss every day; also, the very much alive Joan Reibman, Scott Richardson, Walt Riker, Gene Roberts, Alice Rosenthal, Gus Russo, Buzz and Mary Saner, Stu Seidel, Steve Seplow, Charlotte Sheedy, Leslie Sherrill, Martha Sherrill, Bill Shore, Debby Shore, Anna Deveare Smith, Nell Spence, Susan Squire, Deborah Stewart, Doran Twer, Jennifer Webb, Andrea Weinstein, Nadine and William I. White, Jr., William I. White III, Amanda Wilkins, James Williams, and Zoë Wolff. Special thanks to both Sarah Leen and Bill Marr: Sarah made the author’s photograph; she and Bill lent their jewelers’ eyes to selection and layout of other photos; and both were friends in our house in time of need. And on the subject of All-Star friends, I will ever be grateful to John C. Ryan, who kept this book and my family afloat when there was no money to go on—not because it would avail him in any way, nor even with a plausible prospect that his generosity could be repaid—but simply for the love in his heart.
WGBH in Boston helped to fuel this effort by commissioning a documentary based on research for this book. I am thankful for the support of Margaret Drain and Mark Samels at The American Experience, along with Nancy Farrell, Helen Russell, Christine Larson, and especially Susan Mottau. Special thanks also to Peter McGhee, head of national programming, and a great supporter of this DiMaggio story. I am, as always, grateful to Tommy Lennon, who taught me anything I know about TV.
Newsweek did me aid and honor by excerpting this book in the magazine and by commissioning a cover story obit at the time of Joe’s death. I am especially grateful to Mark Whitaker, the editor-in-chief, who has shown such faith in this story, to my gentle editor, Cathleen McGuigan, and to the late Maynard Parker, who first made the match between the magazine and this book.
This book was first commissioned at Random House, and I thank the proprietor, Si Newhouse, and his editor-in-chief, Harry Evans, for reposing trust in me. Within that house, I also owe thanks for aid, encouragement, and support to Jason Epstein, Julia Hine, Jon Karp, and Adam Rothberg. I am also grateful for the support of Wanda Chappell, who is much mourned in that company and elsewhere.
At Simon & Schuster, where I happily landed, I am grateful for aid and support from Melissa Milsten, Michael Korda, Alice E. Mayhew, and the chief, Carolyn Reidy. I have benefited also from the exemplary work of the art director Jackie Seow, managing editor Irene Yohay, production editor Steve Messina, chief counsel Elisa Rivlin, director of marketing Michael Selleck, and publicity director Victoria Meyer. Alexandra Truitt saved the day with her brilliant photo research. I was saved from a thousand sins by the copy editing of Fred Chase. And most of all, I was saved from my own clumsiness by the deft work of my editor, Ruth Fecych.
No author, no book, could have a better shepherd than Flip Brophy, my agent, advisor, and friend. She has helped, as always, every day and in all ways. As they used to say at Toots Shor’s—but only about the best of the best—she is a champion with class.
In that august category, I also name Mark Zwonitzer, who produced the documentary for WGBH, and more or less in his spare time made this book twice as good as it was. Having Mark on a project is almost unfair. It’s like trading in your car for a bulldozer—all of sudden nothing much stands in your way.
Through all the years of this book I have had the help and inspiration of Ruby Cramer, who is a good listener to her Dad’s stories and who was kind enough, by her tenth year, to sit through a whole chapter at a time—and to laugh in all the right places. I thank her.
Finally, and most of all, I thank and give thanks for Carolyn White, who has caught every word I’ve pitched for fifteen years. As they say about the best in the backstop business, she calls a great game. She is a woman of many gifts—not least, patience—who bore with me through all the years of Joe, and who did the most to shape this book. As always, every word was written for her.
Richard Ben Cramer
July 28, 2000
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Richard Ben Cramer won the Pulitzer Prize in 1979, for his work at the Philadelphia Inquirer. His magazine articles have appeared in Rolling Stone, Esquire, the New York Times Magazine, Time, and Newsweek, and have been anthologized in The Best American Essays and The Best American Sports Writing of the Century. He is also the author of What It Takes: The Way to the White House, and Ted Williams: The Seasons of the Kid. He lives with his wife and daughter on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
ALSO BY RICHARD BEN CRAMER
What It Takes: The Way to the White House
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INDEX
Page numbers in italics refer to illustrations.
Abbott and Costello, 132, 158
Actors Studio, 364, 374
Acura dealer, 427
Adams, Caswell, 218
Adler, Polly, 113
Adonis, Joe, 141, 177–78, 383, 477
Albano, Red, 31
Alexander Doll Company, 490–91
Alex and Henry’s, New York, 473
Ali, Muhammad, 480–81
Alioto, Giuseppe, 19
Alioto, Joe, 19, 20
Allen, Johnny, 85, 107
Allen, Maury, 94–95, 108, 122, 186, 201, 249, 270, 288, 374
Allen, Mel, 221–22, 240, 263, 288
Allen, Woody, 475, 500
All My Octobers (Mantle), 310
All-Star Games:
(1936), 90–91
(1939), 136
(1941), 181–82, 186
(1942), 202–3
(1946), 221
(1948), 250
(1950), 287
(1951), 303
journalists and, 81, 91
Anastasia, Albert, 383
Anderson, Dave, x–xi
Anderson, Red, 174
Angels and the Pirates, The (film), 294
Anton, Susan, 477
Appling, Luke, 167
Arcaro, Eddie, 399
Archie, George, 173
Ardizoia, Rugger, 209
Army Air Force, U.S., 191, 206–10, 211–14, 215
Arnold, Dorothy (Olson), 111, 120, 127–31, 134, 190
affair of Joe and, 128–31, 136, 139–40, 325
after the divorce, 214�
��17, 222, 285, 295, 297–98, 304, 338–40
Army and, 206–10
baseball and, 156, 180–81
career of, 127–29, 144, 156, 157, 197, 209, 285
childhood of, 127–28
death of, 499
divorce and, 202, 205, 207–8, 209–11, 279
family of, 157–58
and finances, 227
and Joe Jr., 157, 158, 159, 189, 192–93, 202, 209, 210, 337–40
married life and, 156–58, 179–80, 189, 197–98, 201–2
modesty required of, 203–4, 216–17
Monroe and, 338–40
night life and, 156, 196, 197
remarriage of, 220, 222, 263
wedding of Joe and, 143–47
Associated Press, 51, 172, 179, 287, 502
“As Time Goes By” (song), 176
Atlantic Coast Sports, 489, 512
Auker, Eldon, 169–70
B & J Collectibles, 489–90
Babich, Johnny, 46–47, 170–71
Baccari, Allesandro, 71
Bacon, James, 342
Baer, Bugs, 67
Baer, Max, 102
Baker, Gladys, 343, 344, 414
Baker, Norma Jeane, see Monroe, Marilyn
Baldwin, Wally, 434, 442–43
Ballou, Noble Winfield “Old Pard,” 57–58
Banchero, Andy, 5, 31, 39
Bancroft, Anne, 481
Baranti, Lenny, 435
Barath, Steve, 58
Barron, Earl, 503
Barrow, Ed, 202, 460
and Joe’s contracts, 68–69, 73, 79, 105, 114–15, 117, 159, 198, 200, 206
and Joe’s skills, 74, 88, 90
and war, 160, 198, 206, 207
Barsocchini, Reno, 105, 279, 316, 351, 352, 369, 438
Barzone, Ben, 243
baseball: