Brooklyn–born Gennaro Joseph Casale, better known as Jerry, played 11 seasons in professional baseball beginning in 1952 and concluding in 1963. During a five-year stretch, from 1958-1962, he pitched for three major-league teams (Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Detroit Tigers). Jerry recorded his best season in 1959 as a 13-8 rookie with the Boston Red Sox. He was a good hitter, too—for a pitcher—and he hit some memorable home runs.

Casale’s life centered on the New York City region since his birth in Brooklyn on September 27, 1933. He spent his youth in Brooklyn, moved to Staten Island after being married, and then in his later years, lived in New Jersey. His parents, Gennaro and Maria Casale were born in Italy just outside of Naples, and emigrated to the United States. The family lived and owned a grocery store in Brooklyn.

In December 1956, Jerry was inducted into the U. S. Army. He served with the 3rd Armored Division for nearly two years during 1957-58 mostly in Europe.

Casale made the Red Sox out of spring training in 1959. For the season he went 13-8 with nine complete games and three shutouts. He was selected the Red Sox’ rookie of the year. In his first major leagues start, in addition to a complete-game, 7-3 win, he hit a home run—450 feet according to The Sporting News.

After baseball, Jerry went into the restaurant business. He opened a restaurant in Manhattan called Murray's with former New York Mets players Art Shamsky and Ron Darling, and later opened an Italian restaurant called Pino's on 34th Street in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan.

Casale had a 20-foot-wide mural of Fenway Park painted on one of the restaurant’s walls, capturing the moment on September 7, 1959 when he connected for a home run against Bob Turley and the Yankees. The scene showed #19 Casale at bat and the scoreboard showing a 4-1 Red Sox lead just as he connected with the pitch for his home run.

For those who wanted more information he also had a tape recording of the memorable moment. Casale said "(the) first pitch got by me before I realized what the catcher was doing, asking me, ‘How’s the family, Jerry? How’s the kids?’” The next pitch from Turley was the one Casale hit over the Green Monster that is recorded on the mural and on the tape. When he touched home plate he told Yogi Berra, the Yankees catcher who was chirping during his at-bat, “I’m not even married, Yogi.”

(excerpted from SABR, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)