Streak: Joe Dimaggio and the Summer of '41

This solid day-by-day look at Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak is well worth reading. Author Michael Seidel recreates the excitement of one of baseball's most treasured records. Seidel describes all 56 games from May 15 to July 16, 1941. For the record, the Yankee Clipper batted .408 (91 for 223) during the streak, with 16 doubles, 4 triples, and 15 homers. During this time his team won 41 games, surging to first place where they remained to win yet another pennant and World Series (against the cross-town Brooklyn Dodgers). Readers learn about that year's two pennant races, plus Yankee teammates like Phil Rizzuto, Tommy Henrich, Bill Dickey and ex-teamate Lou Gherig (who died during the streak). There is also a look at opponents like Dominic DiMaggio (Joe's brother), Luke Appling, Ken Keltner (his glove helped end the streak), Lefty Grove, and Ted Williams - who hit .406 with an incredible .553 On-Base-Percentage yet lost the MVP Award to the better-rounded, more gentlemanly DiMaggio. As many know, the 1941 season took place against a backdrop of World War II, which the USA would enter that December. The author covers the major national and international events on a day-by-day basis along with each game. We read about Nazi submarines, Hank Greenberg being drafted, President Roosevelt aiding a beleagured Britain, and Hitler's invasion of the Soviet Union. Michael Seidel is a professor of Literature at Columbia University who writes readable prose and included the box scores of each game in the Appendix. Even if (like me) you're no Yankee fan, this book makes a nice addition for baseball aficionados and history buffs.

Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in 1941 has long been one of sports most hallowed accomplishments, and one which it seems may never be equalled. Author Michael Seidel examines the streak game-by-game, detailing not just the exploits of DiMaggio, but also the events of the world at that time, especially the escalation of World War II. From the news of the sinking of the Egyptian steamer Zamzam with 138 Americans aboard to violinist Fritz Kriesler walking for the first time since being hit by a car to numerous other news stories of the time, the stories that go along with the chronicling of the streak make this book a unique and totally enjoyable read. To make the book all the more desireable for baseball fans and statisticians, the appendix of the book has complete box scores for each of the games. A great book that would fit nicely in the collection of any baseball trivia buff or fan of Joe DiMaggio and the New York Yankees.