Joe isn't Hall of Fame material but, as you said, he was a 3 time All Star, got 219 HRs, and knocked in 721 runs. He sure made his contribution to the game of MLB. As a life long Yankees fan now in my 70s, I am very proud of all he accomplished and that, like me, he was from Brooklyn.
He probably would have been if he took better care of himself during his pro player days........and got some sleep instead drinking and chasing skirts. Joe was like a rock star, and the temptations were there, everyday. I get it, and I don't blame him or judge him. He was my favorite Yankee.
The GREATEST book ever written by a professional athlete. His description of his father's death from a massive heart attack when he was a young man hit home with me, who experienced the same thing. He died the same way albeit at a much older age. He's buried with his Italian Born Grandfather Vincenzo Caiazzo who he fondly remembered in his book. I'm happy to see that.
There's so many hilarious moments in the book that cannot be repeated here... LOL..... But there was one that I remember reading when I was 13 years old and it's when Joe pep went to Japan and had to take a dump during his teams at bat..... In between the hilarity of using a Japanese bathroom and having to explain to one of the players to tell the manager that he couldn't bat by saying "Joey no play... shitty in pantsy."
Whin I was seven my grandmother took me to an A's game in Kansas City against the Yankees. It was the first time I had ever been at a game. I was watching the YANKEES go to the clubhouse. Joe gave me a baseball. I wish I still had e.
Grew up watching the Yankees on the game of the week Saturday morning from San Diego. Joe was my first fave player as a kid because of his name. Great player!
Years before Joe Namath ever acted the way he did - JOE PEPITONE had already had the on and off the field life style ! 2 Joes - One influencing the other !
I liked Joe. He's probably the reason I became a Yankees fan. I saw him play starting in 1962 when I was 10. He was a fantastic first baseman and also a good centerfielder replacing the Mick when he switched to first base. I hated it when he got traded to the Astros. Great video!
Same here. I'm a few years younger, but started watching the both the Yankess and Mets in 65 at about 8 years old, and then a solid Yankee's only fan by 67. Pepitone was like a rockstar to me and I remember Rizzuto used to get a kick out him.
I remember a Yankees game in 1967 late in the season. The team was not very good. A friend and I took the LIRR from Babylon to Queens, got on the subway, and got off at the Polo Grounds, and walked over the bridge to the Stadium. We bought tickets and sat directly behind home plate in the third deck (front row). They played the Angels that afternoon and there were not 10,000 people at that game. Both teams sucked! One inning the Angels had a runner on third base with one out, Pepitone was playing right field. The batter (I don't remember his name) hit a fly ball to right. Pepitone made the catch and threw a strike to Jake Gibbs who applied the tag at home, completing the double play that ended the inning. Joe got a standing ovation (quite naturally) as he trotted in toward the dugout, where he was the leadoff hitter that inning. I barely had the time to sit down before Joe hit the first pitch deep in to the right field third deck! Fantastic! All 9,000 plus fans went crazy! Thank you, Joe! You made us proud! Rest in peace!
l remember you Joe when you played for the amarillo goldsox you were one of our favorite players we were just kids we will see you again someday in that great ballpark in the sky.the goldsox were a triple A ball club for the New York yankees.
I remember we used to follow him in the box scores everyday. The good old days when we used to actually talk to each other face to face instead of looking at the stupid gadget in our hands today.
I loved watching the Yanks on WPIX channel 11 when I was a kid. and tried to watch every game I could. I wore Joe's #25 on my Little League uniform and played first base, wanting to be like him except I batter right handed. I had the hair growing out the back but too young for the sideburns.
Grew up with Pepitone. Being Italian myself, I loved him. Met him in Bethpage, N.Y. across the street from our old house on Hoover Lane. Joe, ya could of been 1 of the Greats! NOW BATTING #25, JOE PEPITONE, PEPITONE.😢❤
Joe was shot on a NYC street sometime in the 50's but obviously survived. Another guy born on 10-9-40 as was Joe was shot on a NYC street in 1980 but didn't make it. His name was John Lennon.
He was supposed to make an appearance here in Louisville back in the 80s - my Grandfather was thrilled - I couldn't wait to meet this guy - He was wired $500 and never showed - He's not one of my favs to say the least
THOMAS - THANK YOU - I REMEMBER JOE PEPITONE WELL - GREAT MOMENTS ON AND OFF THE FIELD - YOU HAVE KEPT HIM ALIVE WITH THIS VIDEO - JOE NANIA, HARLEM NEW YORK
Oh what could have been. If Joe had just partied and caroused a little bit less. The book “Joey you could made us proud”was published when I was 12. Joe had come back to the USA after a disasterous few weeks in Japan. Joe made a comeback of sorts with the AAA Hawaii Islanders of the San Diego Padres. But for some reason the Padres never called him up to the major leagues. Still he had some great seasons with the Yankees despite all his carousing. Started at First Base for the Yankees in the 1963/ and 1964 World Series. Joe hit a grand slam in game6 of the 64 World Series to help Jim “Ball Four” Bouton win his second game of that series. Mickey Mantle hit a walk off Home Run against Barney Schultz to win Bouton and the Yankees Game 3. NY Sportswriter Phil Pepe wrote almost 50 years ago “ Peace Joe Pepitone you never meant anybody any harm”,
Sure is, it was re-released with some updated pics and added commentary by Joe about 10 years ago. I got a used copy cheap off of EBAY a few weeks ago.
@@Nestor123057 I'm pretty sure it's the only Pepitone book, although he's mentioned in Murcer's biography " Yankee for Life" , Ball Four, and Sparky's " The Bronx Zoo".....all just briefly. I think Pepitone might have warned that if you're invited to Frank Sinatra's house and don't sit there and listen to Oprah music with him, that you'll end up sleepin' with the fishes.
I had the pleasure of meeting JOE in utica ny the yanks were in cooperstown to play the yearly game when they won the they would stay at the HOTEL UTICA at that time I met him in a club across the srreet called Lafette show bar my nickname is also PEPPY and the hostess of the club was Peppper carson she introuced me to JOE Peppy. As luck would it I met him NY the next year 1963 after I got married and stayed at the Studium Motel where Joe hung out, The club in the hotel was down staires where Clete Boyer was part owner of the celeribrty lounge when I was out taking my wife to the hair dresser it was on the radio that YOGI BERRA was make the new manager of the Yankees I came into the clubb and told Clete Boyer Phil Linze and JOE PEPPatonre the news they called the staudium and confirm it and i was the one that gave them the news MY YANKEE TRIITA I was thirred to do it and JOE gave me the critet THANKS PEPPY AND REST IN PEACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the video. Glad Joe's got nice spot with his family, as I saw his grandfather's last name on the headstone. Just for the record, I read the book too, and Joe offered Mantle a hit off a joint and Mantle refused.....and also, there's nothing said about Whitey Ford smoking dope at all. Those guys, with the exception of Pepitone drank booze but didn't smoke dope.
