Joe Garagiola, who beat boyhood friend Yogi Berra to the major leagues by four months but became better known as a broadcaster with long stints on NBC’s “Game of the Week” and the “Today” show, died Wednesday. He was 90 and had been in ill health for the last few years.
Garagiola, who grew up with Berra on “The Hill” in St. Louis, played nine seasons in the majors with four different teams, including his hometown Cardinals and the New York Giants.
Like Berra, with whom he remained close friends until Yogi’s death in September, also at the age of 90, Garagiola was a catcher. He hit 42 home runs with 255 RBIs and had a .257 lifetime batting average.
“Not only was I not the best catcher in the major leagues, I wasn’t even the best catcher on my street,” he said.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of this amazing man who was not just beloved by those of us in his family, but to generations of baseball fans who he impacted during his eight decades in the game,” Garagiola’s family said in a statement. “Joe loved the game and passed that love onto family, his friends, his teammates, his listeners and everyone he came across as a player and broadcaster.”
While his playing career paled in comparison to Berra’s, Garagiola also reached the Hall of Fame when he was named the winner of the Ford Frick Award in 1991. The award is presented annually to a broadcaster who has made a major contribution to the game.
Garagiola, who was a play-by-play voice of the Yankees from 1965-67, was involved with NBC’s baseball coverage for nearly 30 years, beginning in 1961. Serving as both a play-by-play man and analyst, Garagiola at various times worked alongside Curt Gowdy, Tony Kubek, Vin Scully and Bob Costas.
He served as a co-host of “Today” from 1967-1973 and 1991-1992. He also was a guest host of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson,” several game shows and television coverage of the annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
More recently, Garagiola was heavily involved in MLB’s campaign to eradicate the use of chewing tobacco, and was among the founders of the Baseball Assistance Team that helps former players who have fallen on hard times. He was also a part-time television analyst for the Diamondbacks until retiring in 2013.
Garagiola is survived by his wife, Audrey, his children, Gina and Joe Jr., an executive with MLB, and eight grandchildren.