[cardcrimson]

During the press conference that happened the day after the 1974 Series ended Joe sat at a table with Ernie Banks and Ralph Branca. They were there to kick off the Tootsie Roll Millionth Run promotion won in ‘75 by Watson of the Astros. Shooting for the ad company of Tootsie the frightened producer asked me to ask Joe D if he would clip a of immense proportions button representing a baseball but with seams in Tootsie colors and a Tootsie logo on the white. I said to him that it was his job but he had heard about Joe’s mercurial rep. Finally I did it and was met with a torrent of f^^^s from The Clipper.

Morley Safer wanted to do a DiMagg profile for 60 but his people responded with an emphatic NO. About a month later Morley boarded a cross country flight and sat down in first class. Right next to Joe. Horrified, Safer nary said a word. As they were exiting Clipper turns to Morley, “I love your show and watch it every week.”

He was a man of contrasts but IMO a very shy guy who grew up on a fishing boat and on the asphalt of North Beach Playground. My mom, who was almost his exact age, while hanging on Columbus Street used to tell me stories of Joe sliding on the paved infield.

Final story. A few years ago a woman was in an airplane ticket line with her young daughter and her disabled mom. She had to arrange for wheelchair service and still couldn’t lose her place in line. A man behind her said he would take care of the girl and the woman thanked him profusely. She took off with her mother who said, “How can you leave Emily with anybody?”

The woman answered, “If you can’t trust Joe DiMaggio who can you trust?”

Ps True story. The woman went on to win the Gruber Prize in genetics and many other awards.

As always, great stories.

[cardcrimson]

During the press conference that happened the day after the 1974 Series ended Joe sat at a table with Ernie Banks and Ralph Branca. They were there to kick off the Tootsie Roll Millionth Run promotion won in ‘75 by Watson of the Astros. Shooting for the ad company of Tootsie the frightened producer asked me to ask Joe D if he would clip a of immense proportions button representing a baseball but with seams in Tootsie colors and a Tootsie logo on the white. I said to him that it was his job but he had heard about Joe’s mercurial rep. Finally I did it and was met with a torrent of f^^^s from The Clipper.

Morley Safer wanted to do a DiMagg profile for 60 but his people responded with an emphatic NO. About a month later Morley boarded a cross country flight and sat down in first class. Right next to Joe. Horrified, Safer nary said a word. As they were exiting Clipper turns to Morley, “I love your show and watch it every week.”

He was a man of contrasts but IMO a very shy guy who grew up on a fishing boat and on the asphalt of North Beach Playground. My mom, who was almost his exact age, while hanging on Columbus Street used to tell me stories of Joe sliding on the paved infield.

Final story. A few years ago a woman was in an airplane ticket line with her young daughter and her disabled mom. She had to arrange for wheelchair service and still couldn’t lose her place in line. A man behind her said he would take care of the girl and the woman thanked him profusely. She took off with her mother who said, “How can you leave Emily with anybody?”

The woman answered, “If you can’t trust Joe DiMaggio who can you trust?”

Ps True story. The woman went on to win the Gruber Prize in genetics and many other awards.

As always, great stories.