Literary birthday greetings: Joe Garagiola, Lenny Randle, Dom DiMaggio

February 12, 2011

Like Bob Uecker, Garagiola was a so-so catcher who made more of a name for himself in retirement. He served as a co-host for The Today Show from 1967 to 1973 and again from 1990 to 1992. He also hosted several game shows, as well as working as an announcer for NBC Game of the Week.

Garagiola, a life-long friend of Yogi Berra (another colorful character from behind the plate), published a few books of baseball anecdotes, including baseball is a funny game and It’s Anybody’s Ballgame, as well as Just Play Ball, one of those “what’s wrong with the game and how to fix it” books from former players and other baseball personalities.

Lenny Randle, an up-and-down talent who might be more famous for punching out his manager as a member of the Texas Rangers, turns 62. He published his memoirs, Lenny Randle: Compton to Beyond the Big Leagues, in 2000.

Also born this date: Dom DiMaggio, younger brother to Vince and Joe. A standout for the Boston Red Sox for 11 seasons, Dom published Real Grass, Real Heroes, co-authored by Bill Gilbert, in 1990 and was one of the main subjects in David Halberstam’s wonderful book, The Teammates
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Tagged as: Bob Uecker, Joe Garagiola Sr.

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