I first came in contact with Joe Garagiola in 1946 while heading to a baseball game in Brooklyn N Y. Fifty-five cents for bleacher seats and five cents for a hotdog.

My young sisters and I noticed three young men sitting near us on the subway train. I told my sister that these three looked like baseball players and she should go over and ask them if they were and get an autograph.

She approached them and asked them if they were baseball players, which they told her they were, and part of the St. Louis Cardinals’ baseball team.

She asked for an autograph but only one of the three gave her his autograph; he signed it “Thank you pretty lady from Joe Garagiola.” He also told her she was the only person that ever asked him for an autograph.

Although J.G. was never recognized as a top-flight hitter, he was the best thing that ever was associated with this sport; a true gentleman and should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame for the good will he lent to this game.

When he reaches the pearly gates, he will be greeted by his old pal, Yogi Berra, who will say, “See, Joe, I told you so. It ain’t over till it’s over.”