Joe Pepitone, Rowdy Star When the Yankees Faded, Dies at 82

He performed some skilled softball, was within the bar business for a time and within the early Nineteen Eighties labored briefly for the Yankees as a hitting coach. In 1985, he was driving in a automotive with two different individuals when the police stopped them for working a pink mild and located medication — cocaine, heroin and quaaludes — and a loaded handgun within the automotive.

Pepitone was convicted on misdemeanor counts of possession of medicine and drug paraphernalia and served about half of a six-month sentence.

“I find it particularly sad,” the choose, appearing Justice Allan Marrus of State Supreme Court, informed him at his sentencing, “when someone who graced New York in Yankee pinstripes will now have to serve his time with the New York Department of Correction in their prison stripes.”

Pepitone later labored in public relations for the Yankees and largely stayed out of bother, although he did plead responsible to drunken driving after dropping management of his automotive within the Midtown Tunnel in 1995. He was married and divorced 3 times.

In addition to his youngsters Bill and Cara, Pepitone is survived by one other son, Joseph Jr.; two extra daughters, Eileen and Lisa; two brothers, Vincent and William; a number of grandchildren; and at the least one great-grandchild. He had just lately moved from Long Island to Kansas City to be nearer to Cara.

Still, he remained a vivid and largely fond reminiscence for Yankee followers of a sure classic. His identify was invoked on a wide range of tv reveals, together with “The Golden Girls,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “The Sopranos” and “Seinfeld.”

For many within the sport — gamers, coaches, sportswriters and even umpires — Pepitone was a lovable if self-centered, entertaining if exasperating, vastly proficient if vastly troubled man.

“I wish I could buy you for what you’re really worth,” Mantle as soon as mentioned to him, in keeping with the web site Baseball-Almanac.com, “then sell you for what you think you’re worth.”

Alex Traub contributed reporting.