Baseball's Most Famous Wedding


On this date in 1954 -- can you believe this was 65 years ago?? -- the sports and entertainment worlds walked down the aisle.
Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe were married at San Francisco City Hall. The couple were mobbed by adoring fans, who were apparently tipped to the news by her movie studio.
Clearly not destined to be a long or happy union, the couple's honeymoon in Japan was interrupted when Marilyn flew off to Korea to entertain U.S. troops. There were other pressure points: Joe was jolted by the now-iconic photo of Marilyn's skirt being blown upward up by a gust of air from a subway grate while filming The Seven Year Itch.
Eventually, she filed for a divorce on grounds of mental cruelty. But they remained connected for the rest of her life. Joe was always hoping to win her back; after her death in 1962, he had a rose delivered to her grave twice a week.
The marriage lasted all of 274 days -- not much longer than a baseball season when you tack on spring training and the post-season at the ends. Yet, it still stirs up conversation and fascination.
The fact that we're discussing it today -- three generations later -- underscores the magic of that moment.

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