Former Arizona Diamondbacks broadcaster and baseball legend Joe Garagiola, Sr., has passed away at the age of 90 according to the D-backs.
Garagiola spent nine seasons as a catcher in the major leagues, and was a broadcaster for the D-backs from 1998-2012. The team named its broadcast wing and TV booth at Chase Field after him in 2009.
He became a household name during his broadcasting career and was a panelist on The Today Show from 1966-73. From 1990-92 he was an occasional guest host of The Tonight Show.
In a statement released by the Diamondbacks, Team President and CEO Derrick Hall said “Joe was so special to everyone at the D-backs and had an aura about him that you could feel the moment you met him. Those of us who were lucky enough to know him personally were profoundly aware that the lovable personality that fans saw on TV was only surpassed by who he was in person and the way he treated everyone around him.”
Garagiola is survived by his wife Audrie, three children and eight grandchildren. A funeral service will be held in Garagiola’s hometown of St. Louis, and a local memorial will be held in Arizona at a later date, the D-backs announced.
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
