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This is the untold story of how two of New York's greatest hit
men--Joe "The Yankee Clipper" DiMaggio and Albert "The Mad Hatter"
Anastasia--once crossed paths. The baseball legend and the
bloodthirsty mafioso were introduced in late-1957, only weeks before
Anastasia, a Murder Inc. member, was gunned down in the barber shop of
a Manhattan hotel. Years later, when New York City police and
prosecutors learned of the DiMaggio-Anastasia contact, they
interviewed the athlete about the late wiseguy and several other
underworld figures.
In this 1961 interview transcript--prepared by rackets investigators--DiMaggio speaks of his friendship with club owner/convict Paul "Skinny" D'Amato, whom FBI reports describe as a "La Cosa Nostra member." And Joe D also tells of his acquaintance with two well-known gamblers, including Joseph Silesi (a/k/a Joe Rivers), a partner of Florida mob boss Santo Trafficante. In addition, DiMaggio notes that he once turned down an offer from Silesi to "front" for a gambling operation in Cuba because, "due to my image in the eyes of the American youth I can't venture into gambling, whiskey, and cigarette endorsements." (8 pages) Click here for more on Anastasia, Trafficante, and Silesi. Enter TSG's prize contest.
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