Toots Shor & Joe DiMaggio (Very Sad)

[Johnny Fontane]

I've been reading this biography, "Joe DiMaggio: The Hero's Life." I know that Ron has some fascination with the legendary NY restaurateur, Toots Shor, so I wanted to share a few excerpts from this book.

1940

There were days when DiMaggio had one of those games: he missed a ball in the field, or popped up a fat pitch when the Yankees needed runs, or the team lost a tough one (they were losing too many in that 1940 season)...right away, Toots was worried for the Dago. It wasn't worry about Joe's hitting, his fielding - nothing like that. But how would he feel? (Joe could take it too hard, get all worked up. He might not come to dinner. He might not eat! Toots would have to send food to his hotel.)...That night, Toots would be holding forth in his dining room, when the captain would appear to whisper: "Mr. DiMaggio is outside."

Toots would run out the door. Joe wouldn't come in - wouldn't want people to see him. So Toots would have to walk with him, 'round the corner, down Fifth Avenue, back and forth through the side streets. Neither one would talk much. Toots might ask: Did Joe eat the food he sent? Or maybe he'd tell Joe something that happened in the saloon. But after that, they'd walk in silence - half an hour, an hour, maybe two - till Joe felt better, till he could go back to his hotel and lie down.

1962

Joe and Marilyn hadn't talked since that fight. He couldn't even get her on the phone. She might be off with the Kennedys - how would he know? And the hell of it was, he wouldn't even care. He only wanted to tell her he was sorry. But, Jesus - she made him crazy....Joe said, "What can you do with a girl like that?"

And before he thought, Toots said to his drink:

"Aw, whaddya do with any whore..."

He was sorry before it was out. But who could he tell? Before Toots had drawn another breath, Joe was up, and on his way out the door. Toots ran after him, calling his name - calling, "Joe! I'm sorry. I didn't mean it - JOE!"

But Toots would stay sorry. DiMaggio would never come back.

Early 1980s

Fifty-second - that was Toot's. Used to be. Toots got to be an old drunk at the end. And lost his joint. All the guys sent money. Joe wouldn't. Then Toots had a stroke, too. He was walking on canes. Joe saw him, the last time, in the locker room at the Stadium - Old Timers' Day - and Toots stumped in. Everybody made a fuss. Mantle, Martin, Berra, Ford all hugged him. But Toots only wanted Joe. Joe was in his corner. and Toots came accross the room on his canes - or tried to come. Joe turned his back and walked away, into the trainer's room.

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"The principal benefit acting has afforded me is the money to pay for my psychoanalysis."

This message was edited by Johnny Fontane on 3-4-04 @ 11:29 PM

[KERMIT]

Well everyone Knows Joe D was not the best person who ever lived.

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Now Batting For The Yankees. #13 3B Alex Rodriguez #13

[Mike Teacher]

I got that when it forst came out and everyone was screaming at all the dirt on Joe that was being said.

I remember reading the part where I think it's Toots and Gleason decided to settle who could drink more, and they were there all day getting more and more shitfaced until Gleason literally fell unconscious near the door as patrons stepped around him.

Glaseon bought my Mom and here future sister-in-law a drink here. Nothing special; if Gleason was there and you were a lady and didn't have a drink in front of you, Gleason soon took care of that.

The other momorable part was his signing set-up for autographs; he brought the Signed Memorobilia thing to unseen highs and lows. They show a photo of him walking the neighborhood after a quake damaged his neighborhood carrying his garbage. But it's not garbage; it's a lawn bag filled with $50s and $100s from some signings he did.

Read this book.

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[Johnny Fontane]

Joe D was a douchebag. He used to beat the shit out of Marilyn Monroe - that was the fight referred to in my post above. There was something else in the book about a woman who came up to him at the airport. She worked with a guy who was making a good profit selling DiMaggio's autographs, which pissed Joe off because he was making less on this particular deal. So she approached him and he freaked out, he called her a cunt and said she was too ugly to talk to him. What's up with that?

http://www.grandinotizie.it/image/g/000/00040.jpg
"The principal benefit acting has afforded me is the money to pay for my psychoanalysis."

[Heavy]

Sad indeed. Few men carried themselves with such grace and class as the Yankee Clipper. Where do you get off calling his chick a whore?

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[mikeyboy]

Few men carried themselves with such grace and class as the Yankee Clipper.


He was an all-time great, and he was able to carry himself with grace and class when he wanted to. However, there are far too many examples like the ones mentioned in this thread to convince the he wasn't actually a miserable prick.

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[Mike Teacher]

Calling a Sharper Image Saleslady who worked on your campaign a 'Cunt' when she approaches you? Yeah, that's carrying real class.

$400 for a signature. Freebie from Joe? Never. Real Grace.



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[schmega]

what a miserable prick joe d is. i pity all those who had to be around him.