July 2, 1941, On a sweltering day in front of 52,832 fans at Yankee Stadium, Joe DiMaggio sets a new major league record by hitting in his 45th consecutive game when he hits a three-run homer off Red Sox hurler Dick Newsome. The ‘Yankee Clipper’ surpasses Wee Willie Keeler’s 1897 major league mark of 44 straight games with a hit accomplished when the diminutive outfielder played with the Orioles.