Joe Garagiola was a major league baseball player who became a television and radio personality of great renown. Joe was the master of ceremonies of the first Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Awards Program in February, 1969. By a special act of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame Board, he was inducted in the ASHOF January 23, 1972. His installation was in grateful recognition of his outstanding contributions to the success of that first program which built a foundation for the continued success of the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.