Piazza DiMaggio

Nice, serene spot perfectly located near great restaurants.

A quiet enclave to rest your heels when stomping thru Little Italy. Grab a drink next door at Starbucks and sit for awhile listening to the fountains (in the summer)

very cool tribute to the late joe dimaggio! whoever designed this piazza did a great job, putting a plaque and a statue of the baseball legend front and center, surrounded by low shrubbery, and encased in a shape that resembles an uncovered atrium. there are a couple of fountains behind the statue, and space to sit on the edges. there’s several benches that line either side of the fountains and a small walkway that circumferences the piazza. great place to checkout if you’re in this hood.

Colleen C. pretty much summed this one up aesthetically and Jerad T. hit the minuses (I would also add the rat poison in the soil as a minus as a dog owner). If Starbucks cleaned their patrons trash from the plaza, it would help a ton with that rat problem as well. I happen to really like this little gem. I doubt too many public works are planned for the neighborhood in the near future, so enjoy it people. The fountains offer a nice mist when the wind blows during a hot summer day as well.
I agree that Joltin Joe didnt play for Chicago, but I believe it stands appropriately considering he is one of the greatest Italian American athletes ever and as Colleen C. mentioned, the statue is «Located directly across the street from the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (beautiful building)»
The only thing left to say is why he would be considered one the greatest Italian-​American athletes. I reference Wiki here for the facts, so if they are wrong take it up with the rest of public blogging world that encompasses Wiki.
Joseph Paul «Joe» DiMaggio (November 25, 1914 — March 8, 1999), nicknamed «Joltin’ Joe» and «The Yankee Clipper,» was an Italian American Major League Baseball center fielder.
He played his entire 13-​year Major League Baseball career for the New York Yankees. He was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955. DiMaggio was a 3-​time MVP winner and 13-​time All-​Star (the only player to be selected for the All-​Star Game in every season he played). In his thirteen year career, the Yankees won ten pennants and nine world championships.
At the time of his retirement, he had the fifth-​most career home runs (361) and sixth-​highest slugging percentage (.579) in history. He is perhaps best known for his 56-​game hitting streak (May 15-​July 16, 1941), a record that still stands.] A 1969 poll conducted to coincide with the centennial of professional baseball voted him the sport’s greatest living player.
Giuseppe and Rosalia DiMaggio were among the thousands of German, Japanese and Italian immigrants classified as «enemy aliens» by the government after Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan. They had to carry photo ID booklets at all times, and were not allowed to travel outside a five mile radius from their home without a permit. Giuseppe was barred from the San Francisco Bay, where he had fished for decades, and his boat was seized. Rosalia became an American citizen in 1944; Giuseppe in 1945.
On September 17, 1992, the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida, opened, for which he raised over $ 4,000,000.[14]
Yankee Stadium’s fifth monument was dedicated to DiMaggio on April 25, 1999, and the West Side Highway was officially renamed in his honor. The Yankees wore DiMaggio’s number 5 on the left sleeves of their uniforms for the 1999 season. He is ranked #11 on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players, and was elected by fans to the Major League Baseball All-​Century Team.
An auction of DiMaggio’s personal items was held on May 19 – 20, 2006 by the adopted daughters of DiMaggio’s son. Highlights included: the ball hit to break Wee Willie Keeler’s hitting-​streak record ($ 63,250); 2,000^th career hit ball ($ 29,900); 1947 Most Valuable Player Award ($ 281,750); uniform worn in the 1951 World Series ($ 195,500); Hall of Fame ring ($ 69,000); photograph Marilyn autographed «I love you Joe» ($ 80,500); her passport ($ 115,000); their marriage certificate ($ 23,000). The event netted a total of $ 4.1 million.

This little plaza is very beautiful and very inviting. They have benches and water fountains here for you to sit and relax and just enjoy your time in Chicago’s Little Italy. There is also a beautiful statue of Joe DiMaggio swinging his bat. Adjacent to it is Starbucks and across from it is the Italian Sports Hall of Fame.

No, this is not a new pizza place with a baseball theme… sorry!
A statue of Joe DiMaggio just steps from Taylor Street amidst carefully preened greenery and neighborhood fixtures perched on park benches. A gift from the City of Chicago to the Little Italy neighborhood in 1998 to celebrate the ‘hoods strong Italian immigrant community, rich sports heritage and support system.
Oh, and a Starbucks… but that doesn’t fit in with this sweet little picture I’m trying to paint, but hell… that iced coffee did taste good while strolling through the «piazza,» so I’ll shut my little non-​Italian mouth.
Located directly across the street from the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (beautiful building). A nice little stop on a walking tour of Little Italy, show off your «local knowledge.»
No one has reviewed this yet?! I win! Ok, we all win.
Please note: I do not think Joe DiMaggio ever grew up in Chicago or played in Chicago, but I could be wrong. Please correct me if I am. Better yet, please visit this little gem and then review it, and THEN tell me I am wrong.