Joe Garagiola

Lore & Background

Garagiola grew up on Elizabeth Avenue in an Italian-American neighborhood in St. Louis called the Hill, across the street from Yogi Berra. He was signed at age 16 by the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He made his major league debut in 1946. As a rookie in 1946, in his only World Series appearance, he batted 6-for-19 in five games, including a 4-for-5 game with three RBIs. He appeared in only 676 games over nine seasons for four National League teams.

In Their Own Story

The air in Sportsman's Park is thick with summer humidity and the smell of popcorn as Joe Garagiola steps up to the plate, the white chalk dust settling on his gray uniform. He adjusts his catcher's mask one last time before handing it off, gripping the bat with a relaxed confidence that belies the tension of the ninth inning. The crowd roars, not just for the play, but for the man himself—a local hero who grew up in the shadow of the Arch's future site. As he connects with the pitch, sending it sailing toward the left-field bleachers, the stadium erupts. In that moment, Garagiola isn't just a player; he is the heartbeat of St. Louis baseball.

Reader's Guide

Garagiola turned to broadcasting after his playing career, first calling Cardinals radio broadcasts on KMOX. He was best known for his almost 30-year association with NBC television, beginning national baseball broadcasts for the network in an unspecified year. He called several World Series on NBC Radio in the 1960s. He worked with the New York Yankees broadcast team from 1965 to 1967. He became host of the pre-game show The Baseball World of Joe Garagiola in May 1973, then a play-by-play announcer in 1974. He alternated play-by-play with Curt Gowdy until 1976, then assumed the role full-time. He teamed with Tony Kubek from 1976 to 1982, then shifted to color commentary in 1983 when Vin Scully joined as lead play-by-play. He called three All-Star Games, three National League Championship Series, and three World Series with Scully. He resigned from NBC after the 1988 World Series following a contract dispute. He spent a year (1990) as a cable-television commentator for the California Angels. From 1998 to 2012, he performed part-time color commentary for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also co-hosted Today, guest-hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, hosted game shows, and co-hosted the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

Did You Know?

• Garagiola was signed at age 16 by the St. Louis Cardinals organization and remains the youngest player in Columbus Red Birds history at age 17.
• He was drafted into military service on April 24, 1944, and was sent to the Philippines in 1945.
• In 1970, he testified at a preliminary trial for Curt Flood's lawsuit against Major League Baseball, defending the reserve clause—a stance he later called a 'terrible mistake.'
• He enthusiastically supported President Gerald Ford in the 1976 presidential election and appeared in a series of television ads with Ford.