Joe DiMaggio is, was, and always will be a New York Yankee icon. The man who so eloquently thanked "the good Lord for making me a Yankee" is etched in pinstriped legend. But wait—did you know that for a brief, colorful stint in the late 1960s, DiMaggio traded the Yankee navy for the A’s green and gold? It sounds like a baseball urban myth, but it’s true.
In 1968, after nearly two decades out of baseball, Joltin' Joe returned, not to the Bronx, but to the freshly relocated Oakland A’s. Yep, the man synonymous with Yankee greatness joined forces with Charlie Finley’s band of merry baseball misfits. This wasn’t a return to playing—Joe’s baseball days were long behind him—but as a coach in 1968 and a vice president through 1969, he became a surprising part of the A’s story.
Now, let’s clarify: Joe didn’t spend much time flaunting his green and gold threads on the field. He avoided the base lines like a man dodging autographs at a crowded diner, preferring to remain in the dugout. This strategy not only kept his dapper demeanor intact but also limited the number of photos documenting his allegiance swap. Clever, Joe.
A’s owner Charlie Finley, baseball’s resident maverick, wasn’t shy about making bold moves. He’d lured the A’s to Oakland from Kansas City, where they’d been perennial cellar dwellers, and he had big dreams of transforming them into contenders. Step one? Bring in a Bay Area legend like DiMaggio.
It made sense geographically—Joe lived in San Francisco, just a short drive from Oakland. It also made sense financially—Joe was two years shy of qualifying for MLB’s maximum pension allowance when he retired, and this gig got him over the line. Was he nostalgic for the Yankees? Sure. But if the Yankees weren’t going to offer him a post-retirement role, well, Joe wasn’t going to wait around polishing his championship rings.
For one season in 1968, Joe DiMaggio became a mentor to the A’s up-and-coming talent. His “kids,” as he called them, included future stars like Reggie Jackson, Sal Bando, and Joe Rudi. DiMaggio didn’t just teach baseball fundamentals—he gave them the kind of advice only a legend could.
Take Reggie Jackson, for instance. DiMaggio encouraged him to ditch his skinny college bats and opt for something with more oomph. The result? Reggie hit 29 home runs that year, even as he led the league with 171 strikeouts. DiMaggio probably winced at every whiff, considering he struck out a mere 369 times in his entire career. But hey, those 29 homers? Not too shabby for “green as grass” Reggie.
Joe Rudi later called his time with DiMaggio a "doctorate on playing the outfield." And when Joe DiMaggio is your professor, you listen, even if he also sneaks you some postgame lasagna, as one iconic photo seems to suggest.
The 1968 season was a turning point for the A’s, who posted their first winning record since 1952. DiMaggio played his part, imparting wisdom to players and adding a touch of Yankee class to a franchise finding its identity. After one year in uniform, he shifted to full-time front-office duties in 1969. With his pension vested and his job done, he returned to his leisurely pursuits of golfing, fishing, and eventually hawking Mr. Coffee machines to America.
Joe left the A’s on good terms, often returning to throw ceremonial first pitches and receive standing ovations. Of course, those ovations came with a fee, because even in retirement, Joe knew the value of his legendary name.
While it’s true that for a fleeting moment Joe DiMaggio wore green and gold, his heart—and baseball immortality—remained firmly in Yankee pinstripes. His time with the A’s was like a curious chapter in a book full of New York triumphs, a side quest in the epic saga of Joltin’ Joe.
So, the next time someone tries to argue that DiMaggio wasn’t always a Yankee, remind them: Sure, he moonlighted in Oakland for a bit. But the man’s legacy, his lore, and his love will forever belong to the Bronx.
--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor
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