Joe Dimaggio is a legendary New York Yankee baseball player in the 1900s. Santiago loves baseball and is inspired by Joe Dimaggio. Joe Dimaggio isn't in the novella, but is symbolic to Santiago. Santiago always refers to Joe Dimaggio as the “great Dimaggio”(Hemingway 25). Joe Dimaggio symbolizes strength for Santiago. Santiago realizes that he is older and has more health issues and is struggling to hold on to the marlin. Joe Dimaggio is also getting older and isn't as good as he was. Dimaggio is a role model to Santiago, because Dimaggio was able to overcome his bone spur and still play. When Santiago is in pain trying to hold the fishing line he says “Do you believe the great DiMaggio would stay with a fish as long as I will stay with this
