Mario Picone – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Mario Peter “Babe” Picone had a brief but memorable run in Major League Baseball during the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was born on July 5, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in a tight-knit Italian-American family. He pitched parts of three seasons in the majors before hanging up his cleats in 1954.

Picone’s professional baseball journey started on the sandlot fields of Brooklyn’s Parade Grounds. He climbed all the way to the pitcher’s mound for the New York Giants and Cincinnati Redlegs between 1947 and 1954.

He only appeared in 13 major league games, but his story reflects the dreams and struggles of so many players who reached baseball’s highest level during the sport’s golden age.

From his early days with the “Chiros” in Bensonhurst to his final pro game, Picone’s life gives us a glimpse into 1950s baseball—his finances, his personal battles, and the impact he made on and off the field.

He bounced through the minor leagues, got a taste of the majors, and lived a life dedicated to America’s pastime during a time of big changes in the sport.

Early Life and Background

Mario Peter Picone came into the world on July 5, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York, to an Italian American family. His baseball journey kicked off in the Bensonhurst neighborhood, where he developed his pitching skills without ever playing high school ball.

Family and Heritage

Picone’s roots were Italian American, right in the heart of Brooklyn. Born in 1926, he grew up in a working-class family in Bensonhurst.

A lot of athletes from that era shared his Italian heritage, and Brooklyn’s Italian American community produced plenty of sports talent.

The Picones lived in a neighborhood where everyone seemed to know each other. Young Mario picked up the nickname “Babe” as a kid, and it stuck with him all the way through his baseball days.

Growing Up in Brooklyn, New York

Picone’s childhood unfolded in Brooklyn during the 1930s and early ’40s. The city gave young athletes plenty of places to play and improve.

He never played for his high school team. Instead, he sharpened his pitching on the sandlots near his home.

He found his baseball home at the Parade Grounds. That spot was legendary for launching future pros.

Picone suited up for the “Chiros” at the Parade Grounds. Those games let him show off his pitching to anyone who happened to be watching.

Path to Professional Baseball

Giants scouts noticed Picone at the Parade Grounds just before he turned 18 in 1944. His sandlot pitching caught their eye.

“I grew up in the Parade Grounds,” Picone recalled in a 2008 interview. “Someone from the Giants spotted me there. They had me for tryouts in Jersey and they signed me.”

The New York Giants brought him to New Jersey for tryouts. He impressed them enough to land his first pro contract.

At 17, Picone signed with the Giants organization. The team quickly sent him to their farm system to start his pro journey.

He got his first assignment in Bristol, Tennessee, far from Brooklyn. There, he played for the Giants’ Class D Appalachian League affiliate and began his climb toward the majors.

Major League Baseball Career

Mario Peter Picone pitched in the majors from 1947 to 1954, appearing in 13 games for two National League teams. He spent time with the New York Giants and Cincinnati Redlegs, throwing 40 innings and finishing with a 6.30 ERA.

Debut with the New York Giants

Picone made his Major League debut on September 27, 1947, with the New York Giants at 21 years old. He’d earned his shot by playing sandlot ball at the Parade Grounds with the “Chiros,” even though he never played high school ball.

His first season was short but made an impression. In 1947, he pitched in two games, starting one, and logged 7 innings at the Polo Grounds. The outing was tough—he gave up 10 hits and 6 runs, posting a 7.71 ERA.

Picone returned to the Giants in 1952 after being away from the majors for five years. He made two appearances that year, started one game, and pitched 9 innings. He didn’t see much improvement, finishing with a 7.00 ERA and an 0-1 record.

The Giants gave him another shot in 1954. He pitched in five games, all in relief, and threw 13.2 innings with a 5.27 ERA. That was his last run with the club that gave him his break.

Tenure with the Cincinnati Redlegs

In 1954, the Cincinnati Redlegs bought Picone from the Giants for $15,000, hoping he’d help their pitching staff. That move marked the end of his major league days.

Picone made four appearances for Cincinnati that season. He started one game and pitched a total of 10.1 innings. It didn’t go smoothly—he had a 6.10 ERA and another 0-1 record.

He struggled with control, walking seven batters in just over 10 innings and striking out only one. His WHIP ended up at 1.548, which says a lot about his trouble on the mound.

Crosley Field was the last place Picone pitched as a pro. After his short time with the Redlegs, he never made it back to the majors, making 1954 his final season.

Notable Games and Opponents

Picone’s limited time in the big leagues meant he faced some of the best hitters of his era. With both the Giants and Redlegs, he took the mound against National League powerhouses like the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies.

His starts came against some tough teams. The National League was stacked with stars like Duke Snider and Jim Gilliam, both key players for the dominant Dodgers.

Picone saw his most action in 1954 when he pitched in nine games between the two teams. His longest outing probably came as a starter for Cincinnati, but the old records don’t give all the details.

He played during an electric time for baseball in New York, with the Giants, Dodgers, and Yankees fueling citywide rivalries that fans loved.

Career Statistics and ERA

Picone’s stats reflect the tough road he had in the majors. Over three seasons, he finished 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in 40 innings.

Career Pitching Statistics:

• Games: 13
• Starts: 3
• Complete Games: 0
• Innings Pitched: 40.0
• Strikeouts: 11
• Walks: 25
• WHIP: 1.700

His strikeout-to-walk ratio sat at 0.44, showing how control issues followed him. He allowed 43 hits and 28 earned runs in his time in the majors.

Baseball Almanac lists his best single-season ERA as 5.27 in 1954 with the Giants. In the field, he handled all 12 of his chances without an error, keeping a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.

Minor League Success and Achievements

Mario Peter Picone made his name in the minor leagues, racking up 122 wins and 82 losses with a 3.94 ERA over 344 games. He found success in places like Sioux City and Minneapolis, building his reputation as a reliable pitcher before ever stepping onto a major league field.

Early Minor League Years

Picone started his professional career in 1944 with the Bristol Twins. He was only 18 when he began his long trek through the minors.

He showed promise early on, pitching for several minor league teams during the mid-1940s.

He developed his pitching chops with clubs like the Richmond Colts. Those years helped shape him as a right-hander.

His minor league run lasted from 1944 to 1956. He got to see a lot of different teams and leagues along the way.

Breakout Seasons with Sioux City and Minneapolis

Picone really started to shine with teams in Sioux City and Minneapolis. Those cities played a big part in his growth as a pro.

He built his reputation as a dependable pitcher in those markets. The experience he picked up there set him up for his chance at the majors.

His time in the upper minors proved he could handle tough competition. Those seasons played a key role in getting him called up in 1947.

Overall Minor League Record

Career Statistics:

• Wins: 122
• Losses: 82
• ERA: 3.94
• Games: 344

Picone’s numbers in the minors show a successful career that lasted more than ten years. His winning percentage and ERA tell the story of a pitcher who got the job done.

Even after his major league days ended, he kept pitching in the minors through 1956.

Teams valued his veteran presence and consistency. He was the kind of player you could count on in the clubhouse.

Personal Life and Legacy

Mario Peter Picone stayed close to Brooklyn after his baseball days, returning to his Bensonhurst roots. The Italian American pitcher left a lasting impression on his community and on baseball fans who still remember his short but notable time in the majors.

Life After Baseball

After he retired from pro baseball in 1954, Mario Picone settled back into life in Brooklyn. He spent his later years in his hometown, staying connected to the place where he first learned the game.

Later on, Picone moved to Florida, spending his retirement there. In 2008, he did a phone interview from his Florida home, sharing stories about his baseball days and growing up at the Parade Grounds.

He always felt proud of his baseball achievements. Picone spoke fondly of his time with both the New York Giants and Cincinnati Redlegs. His career spanned from 1947 to 1954, though he only got into parts of three big league seasons.

Impact on Italian American Community

Mario Peter Picone stood as an example of Italian American success in Major League Baseball during the late 1940s and early 1950s. His story meant a lot to Italian American families in Brooklyn and beyond.

Growing up in Bensonhurst, Picone became a local hero when he signed with the Giants. His path from the sandlots of the Parade Grounds to the big leagues inspired other young Italian American players.

The nickname “Babe” became well known in Brooklyn baseball circles. Picone’s story showed that talent could be found on neighborhood fields, not just in high school or college programs.

Remembering Mario Picone

Mario Picone died on October 23, 2013, in Brooklyn, New York, at age 87. For a while, no one reported his passing, but eventually, baseball historians recognized what he brought to the game.

The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) shared memories of Picone’s career. Baseball writer Nick Diunte took a closer look at his professional record and minor league feats in a 2014 article.

Picone left behind a legacy that includes a wild minor league performance—he struck out 28 batters in a 19-inning game on June 15, 1944. That record set the bar for professional baseball at the time and really showed off his pitching talent early on.

Recognition in Baseball Literature

People have documented Mario Picone’s brief, interesting career in several baseball reference books and media outlets. His story pops up in major baseball databases and got a fresh wave of attention after he passed in 2013.

References in Baseball Almanac

The Baseball Almanac keeps detailed records of Mario Peter Picone’s career stats and personal info. According to the almanac, he was born July 5, 1926, in Brooklyn, New York.

They point out that Picone was just 21 when he made his big league debut on September 27, 1947, with the New York Giants. He played from 1947 to 1954 for two teams.

Baseball-Reference.com breaks down his stats in detail. They list his career totals, including 11 strikeouts in 13 major league games. The site also mentions his nickname, “Babe,” and confirms he played for both the Cincinnati Redlegs and New York Giants.

Media and Obituaries

When Mario Picone died on October 23, 2013, baseball media outlets covered the news. Baseball Happenings wrote an obituary that focused on his record-setting performance in the minors.

They talked about his 28-strikeout game in a 19-inning win for Bristol, Tennessee, in 1944. That game set a professional record at the time.

Several baseball websites reported his passing, mentioning that news of his death didn’t come out right away. His obituary showed up in different baseball publications months after he actually died.

Honoring Baseball History

The New York Giants organization honored Picone for his part in their 1954 World Series championship team. He only pitched in nine games that season, but the team still included him in their 50th anniversary celebration at AT&T Park.

The Giants treated Picone and his wife like VIPs, flying them to San Francisco and giving them first-class accommodations and limo service. That recognition made it clear he held a place in the team’s championship history.

Find a Grave Memorial keeps a record of his life and baseball career. The memorial lists his pro details as a pitcher for both the New York Giants and Cincinnati Redlegs from 1947 to 1954.

Net Worth and Financial Overview

Mario Peter Picone’s finances reflected the modest pay most mid-20th-century baseball players got. One source puts his lifetime net worth around $7 million, but honestly, that number feels a bit questionable given the salary structures of his era.

Earnings During Playing Career

Mario Picone’s baseball earnings stayed pretty limited because his Major League career only lasted from 1947 to 1954. He pitched in just 13 games across three seasons with the New York Giants and Cincinnati Redlegs.

Back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, baseball salaries were nowhere near today’s numbers. Most guys earned between $5,000 and $15,000 a year.

Picone’s limited playing time definitely affected how much he could make. With just 11 strikeouts and not many appearances, his salary probably stayed on the lower end.

Players back then usually worked extra jobs in the off-season to make ends meet. Many went back to their hometowns for the winter to pick up additional work.

Estimation of Lifetime Net Worth

Some sources throw around a $7 million net worth for Picone, but honestly, that number seems a bit suspect when you look at his playing career. I’d guess that figure probably lumps in post-baseball earnings and whatever investments he made over his 87 years.

Back in Picone’s era, most players made their real money through business ventures or just regular jobs after they retired. A lot of Brooklyn natives ended up working in local industries or running small businesses.

Picone lived all the way until 2013, so he had nearly 60 years after baseball to build up his wealth. Maybe real estate investments in Brooklyn helped him out in the long run.

Still, no one’s really turned up any solid proof about what he did for work or business after baseball. So, the truth about Mario Peter Picone’s finances? It’s mostly just guesswork.