This day in NY sports history

THIS DAY IN NY SPORTS HISTORY

Thursday, July 17, 1941

DiMaggio's hitting streak is snapped

Joe DiMaggio's major league-record hitting streak ended at 56 games, thanks to Indians pitcher Al Smith and third baseman Ken Keltner. In his last at-bat, with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, DiMaggio grounded to short for a double play. In the first inning, he hit a hard grounder to third, but Keltner snagged it and threw him out. He walked in the third. In the seventh, he hit another sharp grounder that again was snared by Keltner. The Yankees won, 4-3, but the crowd of 67,463 at Cleveland Stadium witnessed the conclusion of a streak that still has not been matched. He batted .408 with 15 homers and 55 RBIs in the 56 games - and started a 16-game hitting streak the next day.