Joe Garagiola
From BR Bullpen
Joseph Henry Garagiola (Pal Joey)
- Bats Left, Throws Right
- Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb.
- Debut May 26, 1946
- Final Game September 26, 1954
- Born February 12, 1926 in St. Louis, MO USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
[edit] Introduction
Joe Garagiola was a decent enough catcher in the 1940's and 1950's, but became much more famous after his playing days as a celebrity. He was not only a broadcaster, but his book "Baseball is a Funny Game" was a best-seller and helped to make him a frequent guest on shows like the Johnny Carson late-night TV show. Rather like catcher Bob Uecker a generation later, Garagiola liked to disparage himself.
[edit] Early years
Garagiola grew up in St. Louis, MO, and was a boyhood friend of another catcher, Yogi Berra. He began his career in 1942. Garagiola played one game in 1944 before missing the rest of that season, all of 1945, and part of 1946 to military service. He made an immediate splash in the major leagues by coming up at the age of 20 for the St. Louis Cardinals who won the 1946 World Series. Garagiola hit .316 in the Series, including a 4-hit game in Game 4, when the Cardinals drubbed the Boston Red Sox by a 12-3 score.
[edit] Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs, and Giants
After several years with the Cardinals, Garagiola went to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who were a lousy team. Some of Garagiola's anecdotes date from that era (1951-1953), and many center around Brandy Davis, who played on the Pirates and later became a long-time scout. Garagiola then went to the Chicago Cubs, also not a highly competitive team, at a time when they were integrating the team with Ernie Banks and Gene Baker. He finally ended up with the 1954 New York Giants championship World Series team for 5 games, not appearing in the Series.
[edit] After his playing days
Joe Garagiola has been broadcaster for the St. Louis Cardinals (1955-1962), the New York Yankees (1965-1967), the California Angels (1990), and the Arizona Diamondbacks (since 1998). He also has a long association with the NBC television network, which had him work on broadcasts of its Saturday afternoon Game of the Week in the 1970's and early 1980's. In 1973, he hosted a series of short documentaries for NBC called The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola, meeting with lesser-known personalities around baseball, but also letting stars like Hank Aaron interview him using questions he was being asked during his chase of Babe Ruth's home run record (example: "Hank, I've been a huge fan of yours for years. Tell me, are you a right-handed or a left-handed batter ?"). These capsules were broadcast before games and were a huge popular and critical hit.
Garagiola is also the long time voice of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. He is the father of former Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager Joe Garagiola, Jr.. He was also a close friend of former President of the United States Gerald Ford, whom he met playing golf.
[edit] Quotations
"One thing you learned as a Cubs fan: when you bought your ticket, you could bank on seeing the bottom of the ninth." - Joe Garagiola
"Baseball is drama with an endless run and an ever-changing cast." - Joe Garagiola
"Never trust a baserunner who's limping. Comes a base hit and you'll think he just got back from Lourdes." - Joe Garagiola
[edit] Notable Achievement
- Won a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1946
[edit] Further Reading
- Joe Garagiola: Just Play Ball, Northland Publishing, Flagstaff, AZ, 2007.
