Yankees All-Star dies at 82

Joe Pepitone was a colorful three-time All-Star for the New York Yankees. He joined the team at the end of one of its most dominant periods, and became one of its most entertaining – and sometimes controversial – players of the day. He would go on to an equally colorful post-Yankees career, which included an infamous stint as a professional player in Japan and adult modeling.

Baseball Highlights

Pepitone enjoyed a 12-year career in Major League Baseball, most of that time playing for the New York Yankees. He joined the team in time to compete in the 1963 and 1964 World Series, hitting a grand slam in the latter, though the team entered some of its leanest years after that. Pepitone proved to be adept in the field, winning three Gold Gloves at first base. He also had good years at the plate, including 31 home runs and 83 RBI in 1966. He was traded to the Houston Astros in 1970, and also played for the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves before retiring in 1973.

Infamous Reputation

Pepitone was known as a character on and off the field. According to Jim Bouton’s baseball memoir, “Ball Four,” Pepitone never went anywhere without his game day toupee, which he wore under his cap. After leaving Major League Baseball, he played a short 14 games in Japan, where he quickly earned a reputation as a “goof off.” In 1975, he posed nude for Foxy Lady magazine. He also had a brief career as a professional softball player and an even shorter career as a hitting coach, and he spent his later days reinforcing his image as one of the most colorful characters of his era.

Tributes to Joe Pepitone

 

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