Joe DiMaggio was arguably one of the most iconic hitters to ever take the diamond. The Yankees center fielder was part of one of the most iconic dynasties in Major League Baseball and was an American sweetheart, too. He endeared himself to homes by being the ultimate gentleman and commanding center field at Yankee Stadium.

Add to that, he was a cultural icon, too. He was immortalized in Paul Simon’s hit song “Mrs. Robinson” in 1968. But that’s not all DiMaggio is famous for. He was also a strangely stoic occupant of his roster sheet.

Joe DiMaggio features on the Yankees when the pinstripes were feared armor across the league. With hitters as achieved as Babe Ruth having graced the Yankee ranks, DiMaggio still managed to make a place for himself in the hearts of the Bronx faithful. So towering are his achievements that some records even stand today. His 56 game hitting streak still stands and is hallowed ground for batters in the game even today.

Joe DiMaggio – The Silent Center Fielder

Reportedly, Richard Cramer, a Pulitzer winning journalist, wrote about how DiMaggio often kept quiet around others, most of his life. The larger-than-life persona often tended to keep to himself in large groups and on the ballpark. He was, at times, so quiet that some found that too a bit odd.

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And while many thought it was a sign of humility, DiMaggio, reportedly, only kept quiet worrying that he’d embarrass himself or make a mistake. DiMaggio was apparently such a perfectionist that he would rather risk staying silent than saying anything at all. Surely a surgical operator on the field with his precision, perhaps some of that fear, crept into his personal life too. He would rarely say a word around friends, family, or his teammates.

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Instances of the players refusing to speak are lore in Yankees dressing rooms too. In 1936, on their way to spring training, DiMaggio rode with teammates Tony Lazzeri and Frank Crosetti. He rode for 3,000 miles in a car with his teammates to Florida and never said more than, “I don’t drive,” when it was his turn.

And his tight-lipped nature held true with his superstar teammates, too. DiMaggio reportedly spoke his first words to Mickey Mantle after the latter injured his knee. During the World Series, when Mickey Mantle fell, DiMaggio only said, “Don’t move. They’re bringing a stretcher.”

Joltin’ Joe’s best way of talking was by winning for the Yankees. He let his bat do the talking, making the fans roar in the stands while the press printed their own version of his life. And maybe that’s why he’s such a favorite of the Yankee faithful.