Final answer:
Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak was ended by Cleveland Indians pitchers Jim Bagby and Al Smith, with crucial defensive plays by third baseman Ken Keltner on July 17, 1941.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pitcher who ended Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak was not Babe Ruth. Ruth, while an iconic figure in baseball history and one of its greatest hitters, primarily played as an outfielder for the New York Yankees and was initially a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Joe DiMaggio's record-setting streak was halted by two Cleveland Indians pitchers, Jim Bagby and Al Smith, with third baseman Ken Keltner also playing a pivotal role on that day, July 17, 1941. It was the combination of these players' efforts that brought an end to DiMaggio's historic streak.