Pete Castiglione – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Pete Castiglione played eight seasons in Major League Baseball as an infielder, mainly at third base and shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals from 1947 to 1954. He was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, in 1921.

World War II interrupted his baseball journey when he served in the Navy, but he came back and chased his professional dreams in the post-war years.

Castiglione wrapped up his career in 1954, playing his final game with the St. Louis Cardinals on April 25. That ended a solid major league run—24 home runs, a .255 batting average, and plenty of memories. He started his path to the majors right out of high school, signing with the Pirates in 1940. Military service delayed his big league debut until he was 26.

From his early days in Connecticut to his Navy service and eventual time in the majors, Castiglione’s story is pretty similar to a lot of players from his generation. His stats and later work in scouting and coaching show he stuck with baseball long after his playing days, especially down in Florida.

Early Life and Path to Professional Baseball

Peter Paul Castiglione was born February 13, 1921, in Greenwich, Connecticut. He built up his baseball skills through high school before signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1940.

He spent 1940 to 1942 developing in the minors. That progress got cut short when he joined the military.

Childhood and High School in Greenwich, Connecticut

Castiglione grew up in Greenwich during the 1920s and 1930s. He showed real athletic talent early on.

In high school, his baseball skills stood out. He starred on his school’s team, catching the eye of pro scouts.

The young infielder impressed enough that Major League organizations took notice. His high school run set the stage for his pro career.

Signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates signed Castiglione as an amateur free agent in 1940. He jumped straight from high school to pro ball at 19.

This happened right after he graduated. The Pirates saw potential in the Connecticut kid and offered him a contract.

He took a big step, moving from amateur to professional baseball. Back then, plenty of young players made the leap from high school right into the minors.

Minor League Development

Castiglione started his pro career in 1940 with two teams. He played for Carthage in the Arkansas-Missouri League and Hutchinson in the Western Association.

In 1941, he moved to Moultrie in the Georgia-Florida League. The Pirates bumped him up to Harrisburg in the Interstate League in 1942.

Minor League Progress (1940-1942):

• 1940: Carthage (Arkansas-Missouri League), Hutchinson (Western Association)
• 1941: Moultrie (Georgia-Florida League)
• 1942: Harrisburg (Interstate League)

The Pirates wanted to call him up in March 1943, but World War II got in the way. He joined the United States Navy and put his baseball dreams on hold.

Service in World War II and Military Experience

Pete Castiglione’s baseball career hit a pause when World War II came along. He served as a Chief Radioman in the United States Navy from 1943 to 1945.

His military service sent him across the Pacific, where he took part in major campaigns and served on two different naval ships.

Enlistment in the United States Navy

Castiglione joined the United States Navy in March 1943. The Pirates had plans to bring him up from the minors, but Uncle Sam called first.

He spent two years in the Pacific Theater as a Chief Radioman—a role that required a good head for radio communications.

During his service, Castiglione served on two ships: the destroyer escort USS Crouter (DE-11) and the fleet oiler USS Ponaganset (AO-86).

He participated in several major military campaigns:

• Solomon Islands
• New Guinea
• Palau Islands
• Philippine Islands
• Okinawa

He was at Wakayama, Japan, when the war ended in 1945.

Impact of World War II on Baseball Career

The war changed Castiglione’s baseball timeline. He’d played three seasons in the minors from 1940 to 1942 and looked promising as an infielder.

Before the war, he played at Carthage and Hutchinson in 1940, then Moultrie in 1941, and Harrisburg in 1942.

That two-year military stint meant he missed key development years. Instead of moving up through the Pirates system, he spent 1943-1945 serving his country.

A lot of ballplayers saw their careers interrupted by World War II. The minor leagues lost 4,076 players to military service during the conflict.

Return from Military Service

Castiglione came home in January 1946 and got back to baseball. The Pirates sent him to Selma in the Southeastern League that season.

He made a strong comeback, batting .342 with 81 RBIs at Selma. Clearly, he hadn’t lost his touch.

The Pirates promoted him to Indianapolis in the American Association in 1947. That success led to his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 10, 1947.

Military service delayed his career, but it didn’t stop him. He played eight seasons in the majors from 1947 to 1954, mostly with the Pirates, then finished with the Cardinals.

Major League Baseball Career Overview

Pete Castiglione played eight seasons in the majors from 1947 to 1954, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit .255 with 24 home runs and 150 RBI in 545 games as a versatile infielder.

MLB Debut and Early Years with Pittsburgh Pirates

Castiglione made his MLB debut on September 10, 1947, with the Pirates at age 26. He’d signed with Pittsburgh in 1940 right out of Greenwich High School.

World War II service interrupted his career, but he returned to the minors and earned a call-up in late 1947.

During his rookie year, Castiglione played 13 games and hit .280 in 50 at-bats. He mostly played shortstop during his first stint.

The 1949 season was his first full year in the majors. He played 118 games, collected 120 hits, and scored 57 runs. His .268 average that year made him a regular in the Pirates’ lineup.

Role as Infielder and Third Baseman

Throughout his MLB career, Castiglione moved around the infield. He spent most of his time at third base and shortstop, giving his teams some much-needed flexibility.

Primary Positions:

• Third baseman (3B)
• Shortstop (SS)
• Second baseman (2B)

In 1951, he had his best offensive season. He played 132 games, tallied 126 hits, and drove in 42 runs with a .261 average. That year, he posted his highest single-season WAR at 1.0.

Castiglione’s defense was solid, if not flashy. In 1947, he managed a .970 fielding percentage at shortstop. His range factor stats show he handled routine plays just fine.

The Pirates traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1953. Offensively, he struggled with St. Louis, hitting only .173 in limited action over two seasons.

Notable Achievements and Milestones

Castiglione’s stats show he was a steady role player in baseball’s post-war era. He racked up 426 hits and scored 205 runs in eight seasons.

His most productive stretch came from 1949 to 1952 with the Pirates. He averaged over 100 games per year as a regular starter.

Career Totals:

• Games: 545
• Batting Average: .255
• Home Runs: 24
• RBI: 150
• Hits: 426
• Runs: 205

His career WAR of 0.5 suggests he was about an average big leaguer. He never made an All-Star team, but he offered consistent defense and decent offense.

He played just five games in 1954 before calling it a career at age 33.

Career with the St. Louis Cardinals and Trade

Pete Castiglione’s move to the St. Louis Cardinals in June 1953 changed the course of his big league journey. The trade brought him to a new organization for his final year and a half before he retired in 1954.

Trade Details and Exchange for Hal Rice

The Pittsburgh Pirates traded Castiglione to the St. Louis Cardinals on June 14, 1953. In return, the Pirates got Hal Rice.

Both teams made a strategic move here. The Pirates picked up Rice, an outfielder from the Cardinals, hoping he’d bring something different to their roster.

For Castiglione, the trade meant leaving the team he’d been with since his debut in 1947. Joining St. Louis gave him a new start.

The timing—mid-June—showed both clubs were adjusting for the second half of the season. Mid-season trades like this were pretty routine.

Performance with the St. Louis Cardinals

Castiglione adjusted to his new team after the trade. He finished out the 1953 season with the Cardinals.

They used his infield versatility, letting him play both third base and shortstop. That flexibility made him a handy bench player and occasional starter.

With St. Louis, Castiglione kept up his steady defense. His career batting average of .255 reflected his consistent, if unspectacular, offense.

The Cardinals valued his veteran presence. Guys like Castiglione brought stability and set an example for younger players.

Final Season and Retirement in 1954

He spent the entire 1954 season with the Cardinals. That year turned out to be his last in the majors.

After the season, he stepped away from big league play. His final MLB appearance came during that last year in St. Louis.

He kept playing in the minors for five more seasons before retiring from pro baseball altogether. That extended his overall career quite a bit.

Retiring from the majors at 33 was pretty normal back then. Many players finished up in the minors before hanging it up for good. Castiglione’s career totals: 24 home runs, 150 RBIs, and 545 games.

Statistical Highlights and Legacy

Pete Castiglione’s eight seasons in MLB produced a .255 batting average, 24 home runs, and 150 RBIs in 545 games. On August 26, 1951, he delivered his most memorable game, slugging two home runs in a dramatic Pittsburgh comeback.

Batting and Fielding Statistics

Castiglione racked up 426 hits during his career and scored 205 runs for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals.

He posted a .255 batting average, which landed him close to the league average for infielders in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

He never really hit for power.

He managed 24 home runs, averaging about three a season.

His 150 RBIs showed he contributed in the middle of the order, but didn’t drive in runs like a big slugger.

Castiglione put up a .959 fielding percentage as a versatile infielder.

He mostly played third base, but the team moved him around to shortstop and other infield spots when needed.

He played pretty steadily for eight seasons, showing he could be counted on.

He appeared in 545 games, which averages out to about 68 games per season in the majors.

Career Highs and Notable Games

Castiglione had his best day on August 26, 1951, against the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He surprised everyone by hitting two home runs as Pittsburgh came back from a 9-2 hole to win 12-11.

He wasn’t known for power, so those two homers in one game really stood out.

That single game made up over 8% of his career home run total, which is kind of wild if you think about it.

His top season was 1951, when he played regularly for the Pirates.

He kept a steady spot in Pittsburgh’s lineup rotations from 1949 through 1953.

That comeback win over Brooklyn put his clutch hitting ability on display.

Pirates fans probably remember that game for the wild rally and his big swings.

Comparisons and Advanced Metrics

Castiglione’s .255 average matched what you’d expect from a utility infielder back then.

Guys who played all over the infield usually gave up some offense for the sake of defense.

He stuck around for eight years, which was longer than a lot of players from that era.

Managers valued his dependability, so he kept a roster spot season after season.

Nobody used advanced stats like WAR (Wins Above Replacement) during his playing days.

Sites like Baseball Reference and Retrosheet now help put his numbers in perspective.

He played 545 games, which is solid for someone who wasn’t a star.

Managers liked his steady glove at several positions, so he stayed useful.

Compared to other third basemen of his time, his bat was just okay, but he made up for it with defensive reliability.

Post-Baseball Life and Recognition

After he finished his Major League career in 1954, Pete Castiglione moved on to civilian life in Florida.

He kept ties to baseball through scouting and by staying involved in the community.

He spent his later years focused on youth baseball development, and people respected his military service from World War II.

Transition to Postal Career and Community Involvement

When he retired from pro baseball in 1958, Castiglione settled down in Pompano Beach, Florida.

He made a life there, away from the attention of the big leagues.

He stayed active in local baseball circles for years.

As a former Major Leaguer, folks in South Florida baseball communities looked up to him.

He kept his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the organization that gave him his shot.

He lived quietly in Pompano Beach for decades.

Locals knew him for his baseball past and his time in the military.

His switch from pro athlete to regular life was pretty typical for players of his generation.

Scouting and Coaching Contributions

Castiglione shared his baseball knowledge with youth programs in Florida.

He helped young players by drawing on his own professional experience.

He got involved with American Legion Baseball in his area.

These teams gave high school players a chance to play at a higher level.

His work kept youth baseball strong in South Florida.

He scouted and coached using the lessons he learned in eight big league seasons.

He knew what it took to make it, and that helped him guide the next generation.

Legacy and Commemoration

Pete Castiglione died on April 22, 2010, at age 89 in Pompano Beach, Florida. That really closed the book on a life that stretched from the Great Depression all the way into modern baseball.

He always kept his military service during World War II close to his heart. Castiglione worked as a Chief Radioman in the U.S. Navy, and he took part in some of the biggest Pacific Theater campaigns.

You can find his service record on Find a Grave, which helps keep his story alive, both as a ballplayer and a veteran.

As a former Pittsburgh Pirates player, he finished with a .255 batting average. People still remember moments like his two-homer game in 1951.

His legacy stands for a whole generation of players who went off to serve their country in World War II, then came back to play the game they loved.