Joe Pepitone, who won three Gold Gloves at first base with the Yankees and was perhaps most known for his hair and antics, died at his home in Kansas City, Missouri. Examining Joe Pepitone’s cause of death and how he passed away can shed light on his status as a legendary Yankees player.
What caused Joseph Pepitone’s untimely demise?
New York Yankees first baseman, Gold Glove winner, and All-Star Joe Pepitone passed away on March 13, 2023. Not only did he like the nightlife, but he was also notorious for his flamboyant demeanor and extravagant haircuts.
It was verified by his son, Bill, that he had passed away. His father’s sister, Cara Pepitone, allegedly discovered his body on Monday morning. The Yankees issued a statement confirming his death as well.
Source: CBS Sports
In a statement, the group said,
In a statement, the Yankees said, “The Yankees are very saddened by the loss of former Yankee Joe Pepitone, whose fun and dynamic demeanor and on-field accomplishments made him a favorite of generations of Yankees fans even beyond his years with the organization in the 1960s.”
The Italian American Baseball Foundation commemorated the team in a memorial article,
The Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF) expresses its condolences on the passing of Yankees, Astros, Cubs, and Braves outfielder Joe Pepitone (1962–1973). Pepitone won the Gold Glove Award three times and was a three-time all-star. For his loved ones, friends, and admirers, we offer our deepest condolences.
Funeral of Joe Pepitone
With sad news, Joe Pepitone has passed away. Joseph Pepitone had a warm and approachable demeanor, thus people liked being around him. A lot of people must be wondering what happened to Joe Pepitone after hearing the current news. His son, BJ Pepitone, has speculated that a heart attack was the cause of death. The news of Joseph Pepitone’s death and its cause has devastated the neighborhood.
Who was Joseph Pepitone?
Joe Pepitone was a first baseman and outfielder for four MLB teams between 1962 and 1973: the New York Yankees, the Houston Astros, the Chicago Cubs, and the Atlanta Braves. In 1973, he also participated in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Yakult Atoms.
Yankees of New York
On August of 1958, Pepitone signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent. As a member of the Class D Auburn Yankees of the New York-Pennsylvania League, he saw action in 16 games after joining. In 1962, he made his main league debut with the Yankees, hitting behind Moose Skowron at first base. He had spent the previous four seasons in the minor leagues. He hit.239 in 63 games that year. While preparing for the worst-case scenario is preferable, that isn’t always feasible. In 1963, Pepitone had a.271 batting average, 27 home runs, and 89 RBIs.
His error ruined the 1963 World Series. In the seventh inning of Game Four, with the score tied 1-1, he dropped a routine throw from Clete Boyer into the white shirtsleeves of the Los Angeles crowd, allowing the batter, Jim Gilliam, to advance all the way to third base, and eventually score the Series-winning run on a sacrifice fly by Willie Davis. In 1964, Pepitone hit.251, hit 28 home runs, and drove in 100 runs. In Game 6 of the 1964 World Series between the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals, he hit a grand slam, but the Yankees ultimately lost the series.
Over the 1960s, Pepitone’s popularity remained unwavering, and he even took over center field when Mickey Mantle’s knees were too poor for him to play there. But, as the decade came to a close and the Yankees struggled to return to a.500 winning percentage, fans routinely booed Pepitone and communicated their unhappiness with his irresponsible play and failure to advance, especially as a left-handed power hitter in the old Yankee Stadium.
