Legendary broadcaster and former baseball player Joe Garagiola died on Wednesday. He was 90 years old.
Garagiola played in the majors from 1946 to 1954. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1946. In 1951 he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also played for the New York Giants and the Chicago Cubs. He made it to the World Series in his rookie year, going 6-19. He hit .257 and had 42 homeruns in 676 games, according to Fox Sports. He also had 255 RBIs.
"All of us at Major League Baseball are deeply saddened by the loss of Joe Garagiola,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. "Joe began illustrious career as a baseball player, but it wasn't long before everyone knew that this unique individual would combine his multi-talented media skills and wonderful personality to make a mark off the field as well. Joe's love of the game was always on display, and his knowledge and insight is something that I truly admired. On behalf of Major League Baseball, I extend my deepest condolences to Joe's wife Audrey, their son, MLB Senior Vice President long-time baseball executive Joe Jr., as well as son Steve, daughter Gina, and their entire family, as well as his countless friends and admirers throughout our game."
After retiring as a player Garagiola went into broadcasting. He began his broadcasting career by calling Cardinals games on the radio. In 1961 he became the play-by-play man for NBC, calling the “Game of the Week.” Garagiola left NBC in 1988 to broadcast games for the California Angels and the Arizona Diamondbacks until he retired from broadcasting in 2013. In 1991 he won the Ford Frick Award, which is presented annually to broadcasters for “major contributions to baseball,” according to ESPN. He also won the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Garagiola is survived by his wife Audrie, three children and eight grandchildren.