Joe Pepitone Obituary – Death: Former Major League First Baseman/Outfielder Has Passed Away

Former major league first baseman/outfielder Joe Pepitone has passed away at the age of 82, as announced by the New York Yankees. Pepitone played for the Yankees during the 1960s and was a fan favorite due to his charismatic personality and on-field contributions. He was a native New Yorker and embraced everything about being a Yankee throughout his playing career, which included three All-Star appearances and three Gold Gloves. The Yankees organization expressed their deepest condolences to Pepitone’s family, friends, and all who knew him.

Pepitone signed with the Yankees in 1958 and made his major league debut in 1962, playing in 63 games that year. He established himself more firmly the following season, hitting 27 home runs in 157 games while batting .271. He remained a fixture in the Yankees lineup for the remainder of the decade and won three Gold Glove awards in addition to being selected to the All-Star game three straight years.

Pepitone was traded to the Astros before the 1970 season and then to the Cubs midway through that campaign. He spent roughly three years with the Cubs before getting traded to Atlanta in the middle of the 1973 season. He only played three games for Atlanta, which were the last of his major league career. He went to Japan that summer to join the Yakult Atoms but hit just .163 in 14 games.

In his major league career, Pepitone appeared in 1,397 games, with 1,315 hits, including 219 home runs. He stole 41 bases, scored 606 runs, and drove in 721. The MLB community joins others in sending condolences to Pepitone’s family, friends, and acquaintances.