Fansided

MLB power rankings: Top 30 nicknames of all-time

By John Buhler

Aug 14, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) smiles after a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) smiles after a single against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /
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CIRCA 1939: (FILE PHOTO) New York Yankees outfielder, Joe DiMaggio (1914-1999), holds a few baseball bats while in uniform circa 1939 in an undisclosed location. Prior to being known as the New York Yankees, the Baltimore franchise of the American League was moved to New York City on January 9, 1903. The team was nicknamed ‘The Highlanders’ shortly thereafter and only acquired the current name ‘Yankees’ circa April 1913. (Photo by New York Times Co./Getty Images)
CIRCA 1939: (FILE PHOTO) New York Yankees outfielder, Joe DiMaggio (1914-1999), holds a few baseball bats while in uniform circa 1939 in an undisclosed location. Prior to being known as the New York Yankees, the Baltimore franchise of the American League was moved to New York City on January 9, 1903. The team was nicknamed ‘The Highlanders’ shortly thereafter and only acquired the current name ‘Yankees’ circa April 1913. (Photo by New York Times Co./Getty Images) /

16. Joe DiMaggio: Yankee Clipper

While he did have a popular alliterative nickname Joltin’ Joe, the one that we’ll use for New York Yankees Hall of Fame centerfielder Joe DiMaggio is the Yankee Clipper. He captained the ship for the Yankees as their star player in the 1930s and 1940s.

The Yankee Clipper nickname was first bestowed upon DiMaggio by Yankees announcer Arch McDonald, as he glided around the baseball diamond like a ship at sea or a passenger airplane. In a way, it was sort of a Chairman of the Board level nickname for the Yankees’ great.

DiMaggio was certainly great at baseball. He still holds the 56-game hitting streak record from the 1941 season, one where he won AL MVP over Ted Williams, who hit .406 that season. DiMaggio made 13 All-Star Games, won nine World Series and AL MVP three times.

His numbers haven’t stood the test of time, as 2,214 hits and 361 home runs wouldn’t garner Cooperstown enshrinement today. However, the story of the MLB cannot be told without DiMaggio during the 1930s and 1940s. DiMaggio is probably the most significant player in Yankees history not named Babe Ruth.

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