Al Gionfriddo died last week. He was 81 years old. He was a chunky little guy at 5 foot 6 and 165 lbs. He proudly wore the blue and white uniform of the Brooklyn Dodgers. His major league career was not outstanding and there is absolutely no chance he will be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. Yet, he will never quite be forgotten.

Gionfriddo stepped into baseball history in 1947at a game played in the famous subway series, Dodgers vs. Yankees, at Yankee Stadium. Al was playing in left field, when "Joltin' Joe" DiMaggio stepped to the plate. It was the sixth game of the series. Yanks were leading the series three games to two. Yanks trailed 8-5 with two out and two men on base.

Unlike DiMaggio, who was the center of hundreds of articles written by admiring sportswriters, Gionfriddo was an almost unknown utility outfielder placed there for defensive purposes.

The game was played in the old Yankee Stadium, the one where it was 461 feet to deepest centerfield. The plaques on the outfield wall were not behind a fence that exists now and shortens the homerun distance. The plaques commemorated old Yankee days of domination and triumphs in the World Series. Babe Ruth, of course. Miller Huggins was also celebrated. He was the manager of the Super Yankee Team of 1927, which won the World Series. Lou Gehrig was commemorated with a copper plaque.

As DiMag stepped to the plate, the Yankee fans hushed in their reverence and awe of this quiet man from the docks of San Francisco. He was a laconic giant who was adored and admired by all. He never showed visible emotion and was completely self-contained.

As he spread his spikes into that famous open batting stance, the world waited. Let me paraphrase Red Barber, the intelligent Southern Brooklyn Dodger announcer. These are not quotes, but they are my version of his call.

"Joe settles into the batters' box. There's the pitch - and there's a long fly ball heading toward the Yankee bullpen. Little Al Gionfriddo is running back on his little bicycle.

"Joe rounds first and the ball is almost out of here. Gionfriddo reaches out and catches the ball. He has robbed Joe Di of a home run. Joe kicks at the dirt and breaks his expected home run lope around the bases. It is the first emotion ever shown by Joe on a baseball field. Al Gionfriddo has just become the toast of Flatbush."

The Dodgers won that game, but the Yankees won the World Series four games to three.

That one second immortalized Al Gionfriddo. Eventually he was sent back to the minor leagues and was not heard from again until his obituary appeared last week in The New York Times.

The catch and kicking of the dirt are important parts of baseball history. One split second is recorded for posterity.

It is ironical that a man can live for 81 years and be remembered for only that one split second.