Major League Baseball

Garagiola's legacy can be measured through the lives he touched

Published Mar. 24, 2016 1:45 p.m. ET

foxsports

Six months and one day after his childhood/lifelong friend Yogi Berra died, Joe Garagiola joined him in baseball heaven.

If there were ever a doubt about the impact Garagiola had on virtually everyone he'd come in contact with, the outpouring of reaction to news of his death provides a true measure of Joe G's legacy.

Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall summed it up thusly:

"With Joe, he was unique, if he talked to you one on one, you were the most important person, you were the only person there. He didn't realize how great he was. He didn't realize how big a figure he was. He was extremely humble, sincere, but it was that sense of humor, that smile, that laugh. He did have that boyish clubhouse mentality, but boy did he have a huge heart."

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said he was humbled to have a chance to get to know Garagiola.

"He was an icon," Hale said. "As a kid growing up, whether it was baseball or daily TV, he was always on. And to get to meet him and to get to know him here with the Diamondbacks was phenomenal. A lot of good people we're losing, and he was one of the greats."

Social media was filled with tributes from near and far.

We will miss the beloved announcer of the #WKCDogShow, Joe Garagiola, who passed at 90: https://t.co/gGq4dUeHiy
— Westminster Dog Show (@WKCDOGS) March 24, 2016

Vin Scully remembers Joe Garagiola https://t.co/Uj5Y1TZJK1 pic.twitter.com/3X3GGGiEzq
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 24, 2016

Former Yankees broadcaster, Joe Garagiola passed away at age 90 today. We'll always remember him #Legendary pic.twitter.com/mxQixfXfvc
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 23, 2016

Thoughts and prayers to the family of former Cardinals catcher and one of St. Louis' own Joe Garagiola, Sr. pic.twitter.com/sa0tuvOAAC
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) March 23, 2016

We are saddened to hear of the loss of former Pirate Joe Garagiola. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. pic.twitter.com/Mdr43sVSnB
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 23, 2016

Joe Garagiola was a prince. Funny, humble & caring. Thx for all the good u did in the world https://t.co/TNxUbRqsPj pic.twitter.com/EesgHaLk8w
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) March 24, 2016

Arizona lost a great man & a great voice today. Prayers to his family. Rest in peace, Joe. https://t.co/YWz2lWOpt4
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) March 23, 2016

The Cardinals join the @Dbacks & baseball fans everywhere in mourning the passing of @MLB legend Joe Garagiola, Sr. https://t.co/bnprguWv9z
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) March 23, 2016

Sad news for AZ sports fans.

The Phoenix Suns offer our condolences to the Garagiola and @Dbacks families. #Legend https://t.co/qfgSnm41Si
— #WeArePHX (@Suns) March 23, 2016

We take a moment of silence before today's #DbacksSpring game to honor and remember Joe Garagiola, Sr. pic.twitter.com/UZVNSyEtqz
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 23, 2016

It is my great privilege to work for @Dbacks in TV booth named for Joe Garagiola. He'll be dearly missed. RIP Joe. pic.twitter.com/YFhN7HVTH7
— Steve Berthiaume (@BertDbacks) March 23, 2016

Joe Garagiola has passed away. Here's a wonderful piece on his career + life:https://t.co/Wi4E1wYoQl Condolences to a great baseball family.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 23, 2016

Joe Garagiola & Vin Scully call the 1988 World Series Kirk Gibson homer.
Greatest MLB announcing team of all-timehttps://t.co/z5diPcSzXT
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) March 23, 2016

This is how I'll always remember Joe Garagiola. Making us all laugh. One of the best storytellers ever! May he RIP. pic.twitter.com/g9jjLerFSP
— Josh Rawitch (@joshrawitch) March 23, 2016

The baseball world lost an icon today. You will be missed Joe. https://t.co/cYu5VK7y2H
— Willie Bloomquist (@williebloom) March 23, 2016

The NYT obituary for Joe Garagiola, baseball player who became a broadcasting star https://t.co/9UmSGKRogr pic.twitter.com/I5qFaSdOmV
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 23, 2016

Joe Garagiola (1926-2016) as President Ford gets bad news on election night 1976--upstairs at White House: #GRFL pic.twitter.com/M0yj1vwRIY
— Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) March 23, 2016

Did you know? That's Joe Garagiola peaking out the Polo Grounds clubhouse window in this famous photo of "The Catch" pic.twitter.com/TQk49Be5Dl
— MLBcathedrals (@MLBcathedrals) March 23, 2016

Commissioner Manfred issued the following statement today regarding the passing of Joe Garagiola: pic.twitter.com/56k2CfjdiZ
— MLB Communications (@MLB_PR) March 23, 2016

I'll always remember how he held court. Made everyone laugh. Miss you already Joe. pic.twitter.com/oriGvEzEgn
— Jody Jackson (@Jody_Jackson) March 23, 2016

RIP, one of the greats. https://t.co/ijQT5UiAC9
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 23, 2016

If you've stuck with us this long, we'll conclude with a couple of videos from our archive.

The first is from our In My Own Words shoot in 2010, in which Garagiola discusses his induction into the broadcaster's wing of Baseball's Hall of Fame.

The second is Joe's final appearance in the FOX Sports Arizona booth, when he joined Steve Berthiaume and Bob Brenly last Aug. 28 for our "Catchers show."

For those interested in honoring Joe's legacy, his family requests contributions to his favorite community cause, the St. Peter Indian Mission School.