Joe Palmisano
From BR Bullpen
Joseph Palmisano
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 160 lb.
- School Georgia Institute of Technology
- Debut May 31, 1931
- Final Game September 25, 1931
- Born November 19, 1902 in West Point, GA USA
- Died November 5, 1971 in Albuquerque, NM USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Joe Palmisano played 19 games for the 1931 Philadelphia Athletics. Manager Connie Mack had been a catcher in his playing days, and Palmisano mostly played catcher for Mack.
Palmisano had been at the Georgia Institute of Technology at the same time as Bobby Reeves. He came out of college into the Virginia League in 1925, and played minor league baseball through 1943, mostly in the South although he spent three years in the PCL.
In 1940-41 he managed in the North Carolina State League.
SABR has a biography of Palmisano. He is known in some references as "Joe Palm", a last name that he himself may have also used. His Italian heritage was noted when he came to the majors. Mickey Cochrane, the Athletics' regular catcher, took some criticism during the 1931 World Series and there was some possibility that Palmisano would be given a start in one of the games, but it didn't actually occur. He left baseball for a year after the 1936 season at his wife's urging since she was tired of the life connected with baseball. When he decided to come back, she helped by writing letters to baseball executives. He and his family moved to Albuquerque, NM for the rest of his life, and he worked at several jobs. One son played minor league ball while the other became a high school sports coach.
