DiMaggio In Grave Condition

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 24, 1999 / 2:37 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Joe DiMaggio is in grave condition at his home, permanently bedridden and using a ventilator, New York City newspaper the Daily News reported Sunday.

The 84-year-old baseball great was released from the hospital Jan. 18 because there was nothing else the hospital could do for him, the newspaper said, quoting an unidentified source.

DiMaggio spent 99 days in intensive care at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., after contracting lung cancer. He is too weak to undergo chemotherapy.

When DiMaggio left the hospital, he reportedly walked out on his own. The Daily News, citing sources, said he was taken home on a stretcher. He is receiving nursing care 24 hours a day.

Yankees owner George Steinbrenner said at the time of DiMaggio's release he was looking forward to having DiMaggio throw out the first ball on opening day April 9 at Yankee Stadium.

DiMaggio's longtime friend and spokesman Morris Engelberg did not return calls, and Steinbrenner was not immediately available for comment.

DiMaggio entered the hospital Oct. 12 and had surgery two days later to remove a cancerous lung tumor. He then was stricken with pneumonia in his left lung and had fluid drained from his lung several times. He slipped into a coma last month and was given last rites.

DiMaggio's last public appearance was Sept. 27, when he was honored at Yankee Stadium and received replicas of nine championship rings that were stolen from his hotel room three decades ago.

The Yankees had wanted him to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the World Series, but by then he was in the hospital. He celebrated his 84th birthday in the hospital Nov. 25, surrounded by family.

DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak in 1941 is still considered one of the greatest feats in all sports.

He was voted into the Hall of Fame in 1955, four years after his retirement, and in 1969 was chosen as the greatest living baseball player.

DiMaggio played in 11 All-Star games and 10 World Series in 13 seasons with the Yankees. He batted .325 with 361 home runs, was a two-time batting champion and a three-time most valuable player.