“Are you related to….?””Did you grow up on The Hill?”
These are questions that I’m usually asked when I meet someone for the first time.
There are two possible answers to Question #1 – Uncle Joe. Joe Garagiola was a St. Louis Cardinal ballplayer and broadcaster (with Harry Caray & Jack Buck), Yogi Berra’s friend, announcer for NBC’s Game of the Week, All Star Games and World Series, co-host of the Today Show, regular guest on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, hosted numerous games shows, Baseball Hall of Fame award winner, supported many charitable causes (nationally & locally). He’s my dad’s brother. (I’ve been asked if I’m related to Joe on my father’s side or my mother’s side of the family — really!) He was genuine. There was no act. He was Uncle Joe whether he was interviewing a celebrity or eating risotto in the basement of my parents’ home.
Mickey Garagiola is my father. He is, perhaps, as well known locally as his younger brother, Joe. Mickey was a waiter for 46 years at Ruggeri’s (on the Hill) then at Pietro’s for another 15. That’s 61 years serving dinner. Customers would wait in order to be seated at one of his tables – even if other tables were open. He had a following. Dad was also the Ring Announcer for Wrestling at the Chase from 1969 to 1982. He loved that job and found that he had a “cult” following. Plus, he enjoyed hanging out with the wrestlers – like Dick the Bruiser, Gene Kiniski, Bulldog Bob Brown who, when not in the ring, were regular guys.
Answer to Question #2 – Sorry to disappoint, but I did not grow up on The Hill. We lived on The Hill until I was 3 years old on the 5500 block of Columbia – not far from Cunetto’s. We moved to the Lindenwood neighborhood where I did my “growing up” in Epiphany Parish. (FYI–St. Louis U. High)
I’m proud of my family and its ties to The Hill. My mom lived across the street from my dad on Elizabeth Avenue – aka Hall of Fame Street. Small world. My dad either worked or visited The Hill almost everyday of his life. Uncle Joe always wanted to know what was going on at St. Ambrose.
I could go on…….
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