When he was 17, a classmate shot him in the stomach, three days before Pepitone's father died. He never pressed charges, and I think he never finished high school. He was ABD, I guess.
I think he was the first ‘Broadway Joe’.
RIP!
Joe was cool.
World Series champion (1962)
3× All-Star (1963–1965)
3× Gold Glove Award (1965, 1966, 1969)
Me and my father were driving home from a Yankees game. And who did we run into, but Joe Pepitone in his automobile. He was in an up mood. We exchanged a few pleasantries. Joe was colorful and was a fan favorite.
RIP Joe!
Also a favorite Cub in later years. very nice man. signed my sons glove after a game in Chicago
He was one of my favorite cards in our “Meet the Yankees” dice game.
RIP, Joe. Imus had a regular bit with Rob Bartlett playing Pepitone in some hilarious routines where he would comment on issues of the day. Then one day the real Joe Pepitone came on the show and he was more outrageous than Bartlett’s over the top Pepitone. Told an insane story about driving from NYC to Florida for his first spring training and showing up with a boat and a dog because he stopped somewhere in South Carolina to get something to eat, saw the boat, told the owner he wanted it and the dog came with it or something like that.