Al Giordano

Alphonse D Giordano

• Bats Right , Throws Right
• Height 5' 8" , Weight 180 lb.
• School Murray State College
• Born 1931
• Died May 8, 2009 in Nashville, TN USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Al Giordano was a catcher and occasional pitcher in minor league baseball from 1951 to 1956.

Giordano began his professional career with the Valdosta Dodgers in the Georgia-Florida League in 1951. Before the season was over, he had moved up to the Class C Greenwood Dodgers in the Cotton States League. For the year, he hit a combined .236 with 7 doubles, 4 triples, and 3 home runs in 69 games.

1952 was spent with Valdosta where Al hit .234/~.453/.285 with 7 doubles in 53 games. He drew an amazing 54 walks in 192 plate appearances but fielded .946, very low for a catcher. Online obituaries mention Giordano's service in the US Army during the Korean War but do not mention any specific service dates. His short season in 1952 and lack of 1953 statistics suggest that he served through the last portion of the conflict.

In 1954, Giordano was still in the Brooklyn farm system. In 64 games with the Union City Dodgers of the Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League, hit .346 with a .590 slugging percentage. His 14 doubles, 8 triples, and 9 home runs were the best numbers of his career to that point. Besides catching, he also saw some playing time at third and pitched in 5 games posting a 1-2 record.

Despite his good numbers in 1954, 1955 saw Giordano catching for the unaffiliated Hannibal Citizens in the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League. He again increased his career highs in several offensive categories. He hit .277 with 16 doubles, 8 triples, and 13 home runs. He took the mound in 4 contests and posted a 0-1 record. He also saw some time in the outfield. In the fall, Giordano played football for Murray State University where he was an All-American and All-Ohio Valley Conference selection as a lineman.

Giordano finished out his baseball career with the Midwest League Michigan City White Caps in the New York Giants farm system. In 78 games, he hit .332 with 12 doubles, 2 triples, and 4 home runs. Besides catching, he also played some at first and third. He again excelled for the Murray State football team and again earned All-American and All-Ohio Valley Conference honors. In 1974, Giordano was inducted into the Murray State Hall of Fame for his exceptional football career.

Giordano coached at Caldwell County High School in Princeton, KY for 45 years, including time as the football, baseball, boys golf, girls golf, softball and basketball coach. His 45 years as a coach is believed to be a Kentucky State High School Record. Al led the Caldwell squad to a runner-up finish in the 1999 State Fast Pitch Softball Tournament. He also led the Lady Tiger golf team to a state championship in the 1970s. He was inducted into the Dawahares/Kentucky State High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2003. He is also a member of the Caldwell County Football Hall of Fame, and the Kentucky State Softball Hall of Fame besides the Murray State Hall of Fame.

Giordano lived in Princeton but passed away while a patient at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, TN.