Show SPEAKING OF 0 SPORTS TS by y ROBERT mcshane S A E released Rl al by wilm western newspaper union iwo IN SELECTING joe dimaggio as aa the american leagues most valuable player for 1941 the baseball writers association of america honored an athlete whose name will be remembered as long as baseball is played the slugging outfielder for the new york yankees who set the baseball world on fire with a record string of hits in 56 consecutive games last season was similarly honored in 1939 last years most valuable player was not in the running tor for this years award hank greenberg of the detroit tigers first choice of the writers in 1940 spent most of the 1941 season in the army and had no opportunity to repeat during his six year career with the yankees joe never has hit lower than never has totaled less than 29 home runs and never has batted in fewer than runs he batted in games in 1941 his consecutive hitting streak this season started may 15 with a single off edgar smith of the chicago white sox and continued until july 18 when the string was broken by cleveland pitchers al smith and jim bagby the selection a simple matter after au all bob fellers 25 pitching victories for the cleveland indians were high in the league ted williams outstripped cecil travis of washington his nearest rival tor for the batting title by 47 points williams hit fifteen of the 24 committeemen for the baseball writers cast first place votes for joe and the other nine approved him for second eight committeemen nominated williams for first 14 for second and two for third feller was named by 14 for third place six for fourth one for fifth two tor for sixth and one for seventh dimaggio DiMagg lo played for the san francisco seals in the pacific coast league for three full seasons and part of 1932 he was sold to the yankees for and five players in 1934 but did not join the new york club until two years later he has been a member of the american league allstar alistar all ali star game squad every year since he came to the majors though the price paid for joe peanuts the yankees consider it one of the best investments ever made by the club his value to the world champions cant be measured solely by statistics his 56 game hitting streak meant a great deal more than is evidenced by the record book |