On this day in 1954 the marriage between actress Marilyn Monroe and baseball superstar Joe DiMaggio ended in divorce after DiMaggio allegedly struck Monroe following the filming of the famous skirt sceen in the movie “The Seven-Year Itch.” The couple were married for only 274 days. According to Richard Ben Cramer’s biography of Joe DiMaggio, the marriage was filled with violence. Monroe cited “mental cruelty” when filing for divorce.

DiMaggio would re-enter Monroe’s life in the early 1960’s before her death. After her death he would arrange the funeral and until her death would send roses to her grave several times a week up until her death.