Joe Garagiola

[USAFChief]

Former MLB player and long time broadcaster Joe Garagiola has passed away at 90.

 

Some of you are probably too young, but for many of us, Garagiola was one of the voices that introduced us to televised MLB, via the NBC "Game of the Week."

 

One of the voices that will always say "baseball" to me.  A good one, too.  

 

RIP, Joe.

[Craig Arko]

Remember Joe, Curt Gowdy, and Tony Kubek very well.

[biggentleben]

I mentioned his passing in the Celebrity Death Pool thread. With Vin Scully retiring after this season, we're losing way too many voices of the game, and all too many of them forever. Sadly, they're being replaced by nothing even in the same neighborhood of quality.

[Monkeypaws]

Loved the Game of the Week on NBC - they often ran Mel Allen's "This Week in Baseball" just before it as well.

 

Back before MLB.TV and the 24/7 sports networks, the Game of the Week was a great way to watch other teams, especially the NL(before interleague play as well).

 

I have a brother who couldn't stand Joe, but I always enjoyed the heck out of him. 

 

90 is a nice old age to get to for a good man.

[big dog]

I really enjoyed Joe's broadcasts.  Seemed like a nice man who loved baseball and loved his job.  RIP.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

Yep. TWIB with Mel Allen followed by the Game of the Week with Joe, Tony and Curt. Pretty much the only baseball on TV except for the 20 or so Twins games on KMSP when I was a kid. Joe as definitely one of the classic guys who introduced me to the game.

[Monkeypaws]

 

Yep. TWIB with Mel Allen followed by the Game of the Week with Joe, Tony and Curt. Pretty much the only baseball on TV except for the 20 or so Twins games on KMSP when I was a kid. Joe as definitely one of the classic guys who introduced me to the game.

I remeber Joe Boyle on WTCN as well - liked his call for theTwins and the North Stars. Hi and Killebrew were great.

[DocBauer]

I mentioned his passing in the Celebrity Death Pool thread. With Vin Scully retiring after this season, we're losing way too many voices of the game, and all too many of them forever. Sadly, they're being replaced by nothing even in the same neighborhood of quality.

I never knew as a player, though I know he was a very good one. Old as I am, I was too young of a fan when he was still playing. But he has always, absolutely been one of the "voices" of baseball the past 20-30 years. Dan Patrick had a neat story today about asking Joe for time to interview him on tape, to build a resume tape, when he was an up and comer and hoping for a TV gig. Not only was he very gracious to do so, and patient while they set up, but he gave an hour of his time for the interview. When Patrick thanked him for his time, Joe responded with something to the affect of: "Hey, we were just talking baseball." NEAT!

 

I know some have issues with Dazzle, but I appreciate his stories, perspective, experience and unpolished nature. Corey is smooth and professional. But man do I miss Gordon and Carneall!

[biggentleben]

 

I never knew as a player, though I know he was a very good one. Old as I am, I was too young of a fan when he was still playing. But he has always, absolutely been one of the "voices" of baseball the past 20-30 years. Dan Patrick had a neat story today about asking Joe for time to interview him on tape, to build a resume tape, when he was an up and comer and hoping for a TV gig. Not only was he very gracious to do so, and patient while they set up, but he gave an hour of his time for the interview. When Patrick thanked him for his time, Joe responded with something to the affect of: "Hey, we were just talking baseball." NEAT!

I know some have issues with Dazzle, but I appreciate his stories, perspective, experience and unpolished nature. Corey is smooth and professional. But man do I miss Gordon and Carneall!

 

Twins fans were blessed to have Herb Carneal for all those years. I loved to listen to him call games as I sat in a tractor for an afternoon. The Braves have had a tie-in with the Carey family for far too long for my taste. At least Skip was comical in his homerism. Chip is just flat bad. The one guy from the Braves side that really impresses me doing radio and even TV analysis and color work is John Smoltz. I always figured Maddux would be the guy to want in a booth, but as Tom Glavine once said, when it comes to baseball, everyone else is speaking English, and Greg's speaking Greek!

[sane16]

The best Garagiola story I ever heard him tell was the following:

 

"I know a baseball star who wouldn't report the theft of his wife's credit cards because the thief spends less than she does".

[sane16]

Former MLB player and long time broadcaster Joe Garagiola has passed away at 90.

 

Some of you are probably too young, but for many of us, Garagiola was one of the voices that introduced us to televised MLB, via the NBC "Game of the Week."

 

One of the voices that will always say "baseball" to me.  A good one, too.  

 

RIP, Joe.

Do you remember hearing St. Louis Cardinals night games on radio KMOX (St. Louis)?

The crew was Jack Buck, Harry Caray and Joe Garagiola.

It was clear as a bell at night when Twin City stations could barely be heard.

[ashbury]

The best Garagiola story I ever heard him tell was the following:

 

"I know a baseball star who wouldn't report the theft of his wife's credit cards because the thief spends less than she does".

Joe was excellent on the rubber chicken circuit. I enjoyed his banquet speech at a SABR convention many years back. It was mainly recycled stories from his books, but entertaining nonetheless. He had a gift for holding an audience.