This day in NY sports history

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Sunday, May 3, 1936

Young DiMaggio debuts

After being sidelined at the start of the season with a foot injury, Joe DiMaggio made his big-league debut before 25,000 at Yankee Stadium. The hyped 21-year-old prospect whom the Yankees had acquired from the San Francisco Seals didn't disappoint in his first game. Starting in leftfield and batting third (ahead of Lou Gehrig), he went 3-for-6 with a triple, three runs and an RBI in the Yankees' 14-5 win over the St. Louis Browns. DiMaggio went on to hit .323 with 29 homers, 125 RBIs and a league-high 15 triples and made the All-Star team in his rookie year. The Hall of Famer batted .346 in helping lead the Yankees over the Giants in the World Series.