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Joe Pignatano
Ultimate Mets Database popularity ranking: 137 of 1252 players
Joseph Benjamin Pignatano
Born: August 4, 1929 at Brooklyn, N.Y.
Died: May 23, 2022 at Naples, Fla. Obituary
Throws: Right Bats: Right
Height: 5.10 Weight: 180

Joe Pignatano was the most popular Ultimate Mets Database daily lookup on June 9, 2011, August 6, 2011, July 13, 2013, December 26, 2015, May 23, 2022, May 24, 2022, and July 6, 2022.

Non-playing roles with Mets Coach 1968 - 1981

First Mets game: July 14, 1962
Last Mets game: September 30, 1962

Cousin of Pete Falcone

Share your memories of Joe Pignatano HERE IS WHAT OTHER METS FANS HAVE TO SAY: flushingflash In the winter of 1987 my friend and I snuck into Shea Stadium and had a gay old time running all over the field and standing on the pitcher's mounds. I took back with me a souvenir of that day -- a frozen tomato from the bullpen tomato plant that Piggy planted during his days as a coach. It was kind of disgusting so I threw it out. C Montgomery Burns Loved the tomato patch in the bullpen. Was this guy famous for anything else? David Mo June 27, 2001 To answer C. Montgomery Burns: Joe Pignatano’s claim to fame is that In his last major league at bat (playing for the Mets, of course!) he hit into a triple play. I believe it was the last or next to last game of the Mets "amazin;" inaugural season (1962)... Won Doney July 13, 2001 Isn't it funny how when a former Met (Gil Hodges) is hired as the Mets' manager, he brings another former Mets with him as a coach (Piggy)? Al November 24, 2001 My dad knew Piggy from his Brooklyn youth days. In '68 at a game against Pittsburgh, Piggy let my brother and I sit on the dugout bench with him and he got some autographs for us. That was beyond cool for a fourteen year old Met fan. Nice guy for doing that for us. mike March 3, 2002 I used to bring a butterfly net to Shea to snag ground balls off the field during batting practice. One day Pignatano comes walking by, snags my net, and breaks it over his knee. I've been terrified of that man ever since. Edgy DC October 11, 2002 Piggy, among other things, was the last man to see Gil Hodges alive, at his side when the sudden and fatal heart-attack hit. Don't dis' the Pigman. Jonathan Stern December 17, 2002 Put in many years as a coach - left when Torre got fired, along with Rube Walker. Maury Allen's book on the '69 Mets features a section on Piggy. You will find it hard not to cry when you read his description of Gil Hodges's death. A Brooklyn guy who made good - even with the career-ending, '62 season-ending triple play. Joe P. September 24, 2004 A former neighbor of my parents in Brooklyn. I have met him many times, a real gentleman. The answer to a great trivia question- who was the catcher for the last out in Ebbets Field for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Rico Q. November 18, 2004 Back in February 1997, when I was cooking for Outback Steakhouse, I was selected to cook at the Ted Williams Hitters Hall of Fame in Florida. It was there that I met Joe Pignatano (And many other oldtimers and HOFers). It was the day before the inductions and we were setting up for a lunch we had to do for the oldtimers at a golf course. Joe came over while I was setting up the grill and asked "How long before we eat? I'm starvin'!" I recognized Joe right away, which wasn't hard since he had a Brooklyn Dodgers hat on, a heavy New York accent and that familiar face. I told Joe we'd be ready to go by the time he got back from his round of golf and added, half kidding, "But I'll cook you anything you want right now for that Dodgers hat!!" Joe laughed and said he needed the hat. Later, after his round of golf, Joe was walking over towards me for that chicken sandwich he wanted. I saw him coming and grabbed a baseball out of the box of baseballs I brought with me. I walked over to hand him the baseball to sign and, at the same time, Joe pulled off his Brooklyn Dodgers hat and handed it to me. I was shocked! I asked if he was serious that I could have it and he said yes. Before Joe and I were done, He had signed the hat and baseball for me and even had his picture taken with me. We talked about baseball and New York, which is where I was born. He was so down to earth! It was just so cool!! I still have that hat, baseball and picture to this day. Mr. Joe Pignatano is an awesome individual!! alycia February 21, 2005 I just saw him yesterday, 2/20/2005. He's good friends with my grandpa. He calls my grandpa Sonny and my grandpa calls him Piggy. He's really nice and cool. larry August 20, 2006 I remember a story that when the Mets bought Pignatano he arrived at the stadium earlier than expected. He put on his new uniform and went out to the field to warm up. He sat next to Casey Stengel on the bench and figured he would talk himself up. He gave Stengel a glowing report on his hitting and catching prowess. Stengel nodded and Pignatano walked away figuring Casey had all he needed. A reporter walked up to Stengel and asked him who was catching and he replied, "Pignatano if he ever gets here." jim tagariello August 5, 2007 I will always remember Joe Pignatano out in the bullpen . He was very proud of the gardens he grew out there during each season. The Met announcers had a habit of bringing up the fact that he hit into a triple play in his last major at bat. Lynn August 5, 2007 Piggy is one of the coaches at Mets fantasy camp. He was my team's bench coach. He is a wonderful and fun man. He tells great stories about his days in baseball. I got fined at kangaroo court for calling him an sob after he told me I struck out on a 35 mile an hour pitch. He was grinning. I was grinning. The most fun I have ever had. Joe Figliola May 20, 2010 My favorite Pignatano moment was his interview during the wild post-game celebration that occurred after the Mets beat the Cardinals for the eastern division title in 1969. Amid all the champagne that everyone was drinking and spraying and pouring on people's heads, Joe recalled how great it was to have the bubbly around. He explained that when he was with the champion Dodgers in 1959, all they had to celebrate with in the clubhouse was Coca-Cola! larry kelly July 13, 2010 My mother's maiden name was Rose Pignatano. She was Joe's first cousin. Joe was named after my granfather, so I was told. I heard about him all my young life but never met him. I never met my grandfather either. But I knew Joe's parents that lived in Coney Island Brooklyn. It's been some time since I last saw them and I remember his father liked his high balls. They were very nice people and I miss them. Joe July 7, 2012 I never really knew who Joe Pignatano was till about three years ago. Now I look up the guy frequently to see how much info I can get. I was introduced to knowing Joe Pignatano existed when I bought a large lot of memorabilia from an auction. The lot consisted of 25 baseballs all signed "To Joe, To Piggy, To Joe Pignatano, My true friend Joe Pignatano". By all the great legends, Banks, Mathews, Berra, Jackson, Musial, Mays, Kaline, Snider, Killebrew. I found out that I had bought Joe Pignatano's personal collection of baseball autographs. I treasure these autographs and will name my 1st born boy "Joe" just so I came pass his collection along. Larry C July 7, 2012 I played golf for many years with Joe on Staten Island from the late 80's thru the millennium. He's a great person and has many stories I'll always remember. In particular, when asked if it was true that he ended his last career at bat hitting into a triple play, his response was typical Joe. He said "I came in with a bang (hitting a double his first major league at bat) and went out with a bang!" Stephanie M. April 5, 2019 I was friends with their family growing up on West 6th St. In Brooklyn. I was friends with both his sons Frankie and Joey. They lived on 4th Street. I remember our old neighborhood fondly. They are all part of my childhood. God Bless All of them. Scoey August 9, 2019 Joe turned 90 years of age this past August 4th, but I didn't see any mentioning of it anywhere. He is the lone surviving coaching staff member of the '69 Miracle team and this occasion should have been a acknowledged. Here's to you, Joe. Happy 90th! jay g February 9, 2020 I met Joe Pignatano at Shea stadium in 1972. I was a kid at the time. He was very nice to me and my friend. I will always be a fan of Joe. Lou August 5, 2020 I grew up blocks away from Joe Pignatano. As I was walking home from school (PS 215), I saw Joe..He was nice enough to give me his autograph. My first collectible. I thought he lived on west 5....A great guy. Joe Santoro May 21, 2021 Jose Cardenal was a pretty decent outfielder. His best years were with the Cubs. By the time he was sold to the Mets, his skills diminished and even he knew it. But Joe Pignatano thought otherwise. Joe thought he would be much more effective in the bullpen. He was right. Jose Cardenal was in complete charge of watering Joe's tomato plants. He picked up a save by saving the garden. "What a relief" Larry’s Mets Memories May 24, 2022 A NY favorite: A closing-year (1957) Brooklyn Dodger,an Original Met and a “member” of the 1969 and ‘73 Mets as the “Bullpen Coach”. So, he gets the blame!? How many tosses did Nolan Ryan make right under Piggy’s nose before he suggested to Ryan that he adopt a more compact delivery? A: A few thousand to 0. Or perhaps Joe was busy “coaching” his tomato patch. Maybe he did try to “coach” Nolie, but the young tough Texan wasn’t ready to take advice from the comical native New Yorker. And of what benefit was being Pete Falcone’s “cousin”? Really? -they’re 3 decades apart! More like the Crazy Uncle! So no surprise, Pete didn’t listen to him (Uncle Joe!) either! Joe and Rube Walker had more young pitcher failures in addition to Ryan and Cousin Pete (Dick Selma, Jim Bibby, Buzz Capra, Brent Strom, Nino Espinosa, Tim Leary, even Juan Berenguer -all improved upon leaving the Mets) than successes. Jeff Reardon became The Terminator and Mike Scott a CY Award Winner and Met nemesis. Jeff & Juan went on to anchor the 1987 Twins bullpen. Imagine those 3 with the Mets: Repeat WS Champs! So Joe’s lasting legacy: the needlessness of a Bullpen Coach, unless he takes the Coach part seriously. Jolly Joe never looked like he took anything seriously. Still, a fun guy. RIP.

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