DiMaggio reaches triples crown
Joe DiMaggio’s career began with a limp – and a torn knee ligament.
A minor league star with the San Francisco Seals, the center fielder stumbled out of a jitney and tore several ligaments in his right knee. With concern surrounding his future mobility, several major league teams passed on the youngster.
However, the New York Yankees took a chance after the 1935 season and were promptly rewarded. DiMaggio’s knee healed gracefully and, with his ability to hit, run and play defense, the rising star earned the nickname “The Yankee Clipper” as any doubts about his health quickly vanished once he stepped on the field.
In his first season in the majors, DiMaggio tied for the league lead in triples (15) and tacked on 15 more in his second season in 1937, further proving his knee wasn’t worrisome. Then on Aug. 27, 1938, he entered the record books by hitting three triples in one game.
In the first game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians, DiMaggio went 3-for-4 with three triples, tying the record for the most in one contest. He scored once and drove in three.
Al Milnar started the game for Indians, and DiMaggio had his way against the left-hander. The Yankee Clipper went 2-for-3, including two triples and a walk. Milnar pitched eight innings as New York led 5-3 entering the ninth. Cleveland, however, rallied for four runs in the inning, offering DiMaggio a chance at tying history.
The Indians brought in Denny Galehouse to face the leadoff batter, and he was pulled immediately after yielding a single. Cleveland then turned to Johnny Allen instead – a 20-game winner in 1936 who held a 15-1 record in 1937 – to get the save. The right-hander recorded two outs and permitted two hits, allowing Galehouse’s runner to score. Down to the Yankees’ final out, DiMaggio delivered the most important triple of the game.
With runners on first and second, DiMaggio sent a deep fly ball into the outfield and raced around the bases, bringing both runners home for the walk-off win.
His historic game marked the 31st time in the Modern Era (post-1900) a player had hit three triples in one game. It has been done fewer than 25 times since DiMaggio reached the mark.
It remains one of baseball’s rarest offensive achievements.
“DiMaggio was the greatest all-around player I ever saw,” Red Sox outfielder and 1966 Hall of Fame inductee Ted Williams once said. “His career cannot be summed up in numbers and awards. It might sound corny, but he had a profound and lasting impact on the country.”
Noah Douglas was the 2025 communications intern in the Frank and Peggy Steele Internship Program for Leadership Development
