Joe Garagiola Still Winning
Joe Garagiola Still Winning
Veteran baseball broadcaster Joe Garagiola wasnt exactly expected to be impartial last year when the Arizona Diamondbacks battled the New York Yankees to win the World Series title. Garagiola is a television analyst for the Diamondbacks, and son Joe Jr. is the clubs senior vice president and general manager.I cant be objective, Garagiola, 76, admits as he predicts this years matchup. I think the same two teams will be in the World Series this fall. And revenge will not be a factor for the Yanks. You dont get even, you just win.
Garagiola knows a thing or two about winning. A St. Louis native, Garagiola won a World Series title in 1946 with his hometown Cardinals as a 20-year-old catcher who threw right-handed and batted left-handed, just like next-door neighbor and lifelong friend Yogi Berra. He also played pro ball with the Chicago Cubs, New York Giants, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
Broadcasting became his post-game career, and he announced for the Cardinals and Yankees before joining NBC for nearly 30 years. He called baseball and did two stints on the Today show, eventually earning a place in the broadcasters wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Now, Garagiolas life in Scottsdale, Ariz., continues to revolve around baseball; the familythree children and eight grandchildrenhe and his wife Audrie started when they married in 1949; and community service.
He and Audrie love to travel and frequently take off on long cruises. Weve gone to Alaska on cruises three different times. Were going to go to Italy. We will also probably take a cruise up to the northeastern states, he says.
Such trips make this marriage of more than 50 years even stronger. Its her and me, and we spend practically 24 hours a day together, Garagiola says. Im a big believer in that line I read somewhere that real love stories never end.
Although Garagiola has been vocal, particularly to young people and athletes, in his campaign against the use of spit tobaccoMy motto is Smokeless does not mean harmlesshis work with St. Peters Indian Mission may be one of his enduring legacies.
Hes been known to trade speaking fees for building playing fields and improving classrooms at the mission school on the Pima Indian Reservation south of Phoenix. The school, in return, has dedicated a playing field to Garagiola.
In 1998, Garagiola earned the Childrens MVP Award presented by the Jim Eisenreich Foundation to a former ballplayer who has made significant contributions to childrens causes.
Garagiola, indeed, knows a thing or two about being a winner.
Upload Your Own Stories, Photos and Videos
Every week, American Profile magazine brings you stories that celebrate the people and places that make America great. Now we want to hear your stories and see your photos, videos and even audio.Related Stories
If you enjoyed reading this story, Joe Garagiola Still Winning, then you might enjoy these other stories.Discuss this Article
- 'Petticoat' Memories
- Holiday Gift Guide
- Cranberry Country
- Make-Ahead Thanksgiving Dishes
- Managing Money as a Couple
- Tortellini Toss
- Yo-Yo Fanatic
- Citrus Treats
- Far Flung
- The Rocking Rockettes
- Library Cats
- What's the Deal with the Imus Ranch?
- Handcrafting Fish Lures
- Kenny Chesney's Christmas
- Barber Shops
- Smoke, Sizzle & Sauce!
- Home Sweet Home
- The Quilt Bus
- Facing the Giants
- Knitting with Love
- Blueberry Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- Everyone's Favorite Chicken
- Italian Cream Cake
- Zucchini Bake
- Chicken Supreme
- Chicken Wings
- Double Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
- Quick Apple Dumpling
- Green Tomato Casserole
- Fresh Squash Casserole
- Slice & Bake
- A Stuffing Called Panade
- Salad Spinner
- Sweet Home Tennessee
- Holiday Lamb
- Going Cold Turkey
- Sugar & Spice (and a carton of eggnog) is So Nice
- Baby, It's Cold Outside
- Three Great Turkey and Gravy Recipes
- Four Great Cranberry Sauces
- Turkey-day dilemmas, solved!
- The Truth About Your Pet's Health
- To dye or not to dye
- Going Gray . . . or Going Broke
- Your Best Defense
- An Unwelcome House Guest
- Perfect Timing
- The Ride of My Life
- A diabetes cure?
- Live Better Now November 2009



