I first met Dom Dimaggio in person when I was a teenager working at the Addison Gilbert Hospital in Gloucester. One of his relatives - it may have been one of his children - was a patient, and he was there to visit. I had know the name "Dom Dimaggio" almost from the womb. Having been raised in a strong multi-generational family of die hard Red Sox fans, I was able to recite the entire Red Sox line-up by the age of two! Included in the line-up in those days were Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Bobby Doerr and Dom Dimaggio - the "Little Professor."
Mark Feeney of the Boston Globe has written a fitting tribute to Dimaggio in this morning's edition:
Boston Globe obituary
In recent years, Dom would return to Fenway Park for special occasions. He was always gracious and classy. Along with journalist and broadcaster, Dick Flavin, he was instrumental in launching the BoSox Club in 1967, major league baseball's most active booster club of business professionals. Over the years, the BoSox Club, of which I have been a member, has raised millions of dollars for the Jimmy Fund and related charities.
Dom was a beloved teammate of Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky and other baseball legends. The story of their unique bond of friendship was told beautifully by the now deceased David Halberstam in his book “The Teammates.”
One of three brothers to play in the major leagues, Dom Dimaggio deserves a niche in the Hall of Fame. He did not get to see it in his lifetime, but perhaps now the veterans committee will review his achievements and his place in baseball history.
Al
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