Tom Pagnozzi
Encyclopedia
Thomas Alan Pagnozzi is a former Major League Baseball
player for the St. Louis Cardinals
. Primarily a catcher
, Pagnozzi also made 40 appearances at first base and seven appearances at third base
during his 12-season career, which spanned from 1987
to 1998
.
Initially a backup catcher and utility player for the Cardinals, in 1990
Pagnozzi impressed Cardinals manager Joe Torre
enough to move Todd Zeile
, then the Cardinals' hot catching prospect, to third base to make room for him. Pagnozzi remained the Cardinals' regular catcher until 1996
. While Pagnozzi had moderate power and was considered an RBI threat, he was primarily regarded for his defense, for which he won gold gloves in 1991
, 1992
, and 1994
. Pagnozzi also made the National League All-Star team in 1992.
Pagnozzi retired in 1998 at the age of 36, after being released by the Cardinals in August, with a career batting average of .253 with 44 home runs and 320 RBI. He also played in the Puerto Rican Winter League with the Mayaguez Indians from 1986 to 1990.
Tom played collegiately for Arkansas
.
Pagnozzi now makes his home in Fayetteville, Arkansas
, giving extensively to the youth of the community, as well as the community as a whole. Pagnozzi is doing well after an auto accident on December 22, 2008, near his home. Pagnozzi, who was driving with Cardinals farmhand Casey Rowlett, hit a patch of ice and that caused his truck to flip several times. Pagnozzi and Rowlett emerged with minor injuries, but another passenger was seriously injured.
Tom Pagnozzi's nephew, Matt
, is also a catcher, and made his debut with the Cardinals on September 29, 2009.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Primarily a catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, Pagnozzi also made 40 appearances at first base and seven appearances at third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
during his 12-season career, which spanned from 1987
1987 in sports
1987 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland** Women's overall season champion: Maria Walliser, Switzerland-American football:...
to 1998
1998 in sports
1998 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Hermann Maier, Austria** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...
.
Initially a backup catcher and utility player for the Cardinals, in 1990
1990 in sports
1990 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Pirmin Zurbriggen, Switzerland-American football:...
Pagnozzi impressed Cardinals manager Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
enough to move Todd Zeile
Todd Zeile
Todd Edward Zeile is a former catcher, third baseman, and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1989 to . After graduating from UCLA, where he played as a catcher, Zeile played for 11 Major League teams during his career: the St...
, then the Cardinals' hot catching prospect, to third base to make room for him. Pagnozzi remained the Cardinals' regular catcher until 1996
1996 in sports
1996 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Lasse Kjus, Norway** Women's overall season champion: Katja Seizinger, Germany-American football:...
. While Pagnozzi had moderate power and was considered an RBI threat, he was primarily regarded for his defense, for which he won gold gloves in 1991
1991 in sports
1991 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...
, 1992
1992 in sports
1992 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup* Men's overall season champion: Paul Accola, Switzerland* Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...
, and 1994
1994 in sports
1994 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* January 29 – death of Ulrike Maier , Austrian skier, who broke her neck when she crashed during a World Cup downhill race at Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
. Pagnozzi also made the National League All-Star team in 1992.
Pagnozzi retired in 1998 at the age of 36, after being released by the Cardinals in August, with a career batting average of .253 with 44 home runs and 320 RBI. He also played in the Puerto Rican Winter League with the Mayaguez Indians from 1986 to 1990.
Tom played collegiately for Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
.
Pagnozzi now makes his home in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
, giving extensively to the youth of the community, as well as the community as a whole. Pagnozzi is doing well after an auto accident on December 22, 2008, near his home. Pagnozzi, who was driving with Cardinals farmhand Casey Rowlett, hit a patch of ice and that caused his truck to flip several times. Pagnozzi and Rowlett emerged with minor injuries, but another passenger was seriously injured.
Tom Pagnozzi's nephew, Matt
Matt Pagnozzi
Matthew Thomas Pagnozzi is an American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball....
, is also a catcher, and made his debut with the Cardinals on September 29, 2009.