Joe Garagiola

Born: 2/12/1926 in St. Louis, MO, USA

Died: 3/23/2016 in Scottsdale, AZ, USA

MLB Debut: 1946-05-26 | Final Game: 1954-09-26

Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'0" | Weight: 190 lbs

Full name: Joseph Henry Garagiola

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Biography

Joe Garagiola was a professional baseball player whose career spanned from 1946 to 1954. Born in 1926, Garagiola made his mark as a position player in Major League Baseball, appearing in a total of 676 games throughout his career. He was known for his solid hitting and versatility on the field, finishing with 481 hits, 42 home runs, and 255 RBIs, while maintaining a batting average of .257. In addition to his offensive contributions, he also displayed base-running acumen, recording 5 stolen bases. Garagiola played in an era that was transitioning from the post-World War II excitement to the beginnings of the modern game, which included rising stars and increasing competition. His career included stints with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, and the Chicago Cubs, where he became known not only for his play but also for his engaging personality. After retiring, Garagiola gained further recognition as a broadcaster, where his love for the game continued to shine, influencing generations of fans. His journey through baseball exemplified the spirit of the game during a transformative time in its history.

Career Batting Statistics

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS	PIV
676	1872	198	481	82	16	42	255	5	267	173	0.257	0.354	0.385	0.739	1607.9

Career AVG .257 vs. league average .261 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OBP .354 vs. league average .336 across their career seasons — +5.3% above league average.

Career SLG .385 vs. league average .382 across their career seasons — near league average.

Career OPS 0.739 vs. league average 0.718 across their career seasons — near league average.

Season-by-Season Batting

Year	Team	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	AVG	Lg AVG	Lg OBP	Lg SLG	Lg OPS	PIV
1946	STL	NL	74	211	21	50	4	1	3	22	0	23	25	0.237	.256 (-8%)	.328 (-5%)	.358 (-14%)	.687 (-10%)	-334.9
1947	STL	NL	77	183	20	47	10	2	5	25	0	40	14	0.257	.262 (-2%)	.336 (+18%)	.376 (+10%)	.712 (+14%)	618.5
1948	STL	NL	24	56	9	6	1	0	2	7	0	12	9	0.107	.263 (-59%)	.340 (-19%)	.379 (-39%)	.719 (-29%)	-258.1
1949	STL	NL	81	241	25	63	14	0	3	26	0	31	19	0.261	.262 (avg)	.343 (+1%)	.384 (-7%)	.727 (-3%)	-105.3
1950	STL	NL	34	88	8	28	6	1	2	20	0	10	7	0.318	.265 (+20%)	.346 (+12%)	.401 (+19%)	.747 (+16%)	237.9
1951	STL	NL	27	72	9	14	3	2	2	9	0	9	7	0.194	.260 (-25%)	.336 (-16%)	.385 (-3%)	.721 (-9%)	-130.6
1951	PIT	NL	72	212	24	54	8	2	9	35	4	32	20	0.255	.260 (-2%)	.336 (+6%)	.385 (+14%)	.721 (+10%)	-130.6
1952	PIT	NL	118	344	35	94	15	4	8	54	0	50	24	0.273	.252 (+8%)	.326 (+13%)	.369 (+11%)	.696 (+12%)	870.6
1953	PIT	NL	27	73	9	17	5	0	2	14	1	10	11	0.233	.264 (-12%)	.335 (+2%)	.397 (-3%)	.733 (-1%)	3.3
1953	CHC	NL	74	228	21	62	9	4	1	21	0	21	23	0.272	.264 (+3%)	.335 (avg)	.397 (-9%)	.733 (-5%)	3.3
1954	CHC	NL	63	153	16	43	5	0	5	21	0	28	12	0.281	.261 (+8%)	.333 (+21%)	.390 (+6%)	.723 (+13%)	490.5
1954	NY1	NL	5	11	1	3	2	0	0	1	0	1	2	0.273	—	—	—	—	490.5

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
5	19	2	6	2	0	0	4	0	3	0.316

Playoff Batting by Year

Year	Round	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
1946	WS	SLN	5	19	2	6	2	0	0	4	0	3	0.316

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
C	614	50	2395	271	38	29

Season-by-Season Fielding

Year	Team	Pos	G	GS	PO	A	E	DP
1946	SLN	C	70	0	260	25	3	6
1947	SLN	C	74	0	281	23	4	2
1948	SLN	C	23	0	83	14	1	1
1949	SLN	C	80	0	332	35	6	1
1950	SLN	C	30	0	99	8	0	2
1951	SLN	C	23	0	81	6	0	2
1951	PIT	C	61	0	255	30	4	4
1952	PIT	C	105	0	418	63	11	9
1953	PIT	C	22	0	82	10	1	0
1953	CHN	C	68	0	296	34	4	2
1954	CHN	C	55	48	191	23	4	0
1954	NY1	C	3	2	17	0	0	0