This day in NY sports history

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Monday, Feb. 7, 1949

Joe DiMaggio signs record contract

Joe DiMaggio became the first baseball player to bank a six-figure contract, signing an extension with the Yankees worth $100,000. DiMaggio, 34, was coming off a year in which he hit .320 and led the league with 39 home runs and 155 RBIs. He missed the first half of the 1949 season recovering from surgery on bone spurs in his heel, but returned to bat .346 with 14 homers and 67 RBIs in 76 games. The Yankees went on to win the World Series against the Dodgers, but DiMaggio hit just .111 in the five games.