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DiMaggio Celebrates 50th Birthday in Frisco

Nov. 18, 1964 - Joe DiMaggio, famed Yankee Clipper of yesteryear, received the keys to a new Chevrolet Impala and a membership in the private Presidio Golf Club of San Francisco at a dinner tonight honoring his 50th birthday.

DiMaggio also received a gold‐plated Louisville Slugger baseball bat and a gold star from the Police Athletic League.

President Johnson sent a telegram of congratulations, stating he rated DiMaggio as one of the nation’s outstanding sports heroes.

Acting Mayor Jack Morrison also presented DiMaggio with framed copies of city resolutions proclaiming this “Joe DiMaggio Day.”

Among the special guests at the head table were Joe’s two ex‐major league brothers, Dom and Vince, and another brother, Tom. Tom, the oldest, was a top semipro third baseman in San Francisco, but he had to help his father man the fishing boats to feed the nine DiMaggio children.

Joe’s son, Joe Jr., was unable to attend because of a leg injury suffered at his home in Los Angeles.

Others at the speakers’ table included Mickey Mantle, Lefty O’Doul, Lefty Gomez, Ernie Nevers, Gene Autrey, Willie Mays, and Del Webb.

Mel Allen, who did the broadcast of the New York Yankee games during Joe’s career, acted as master of ceremonies.

A 7-foot-high birthday cake capped by the number “5,” which DiMaggio wore during his 13 years with the Yankees, was cut and served to the more than 1.000 guests. The dinner took place at the Sheraton Palace hotel.

Lefty Gomez stole the show with witty revelations of incidents that supposedly happened when he and Joe were roommates. Most of them sounded like tall tales, but the crowd loved every one.



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