Pignatano spent his career as a backup catcher. The Brooklyn native began with the Dodgers in their last season in his home borough but ultimately lost out to John Roseboro in the competition to succeed Roy Campanella as the Dodgers’ catcher. Pignatano saw the most action with the A’s in 1961, reaching career highs of .243, four HR, and 22 RBI in 243 at-bats. He became the Senators’ bullpen coach under manager Gil Hodges, a former Dodger and Met teammate, and followed him to the Mets in 1968. He got extensive publicity for the tomato garden he planted in the bullpen. Met pitcher Pete Falcone was his cousin.
