''If something happens and I never play the game again, I accomplished my goal,'' Joe said after his first MLB game. ''I got to the big leagues. As soon as I came in last night, Piazza said, 'Hey, you're in the encyclopedia.'''

Joseph Bernard DePastino (born September 4, 1973 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American professional baseball player. A catcher, Joe made his Major League Baseball debut in 2003 for the New York Mets.

After spending over 10 years in the minor leagues as a journeyman catcher (five seasons in Triple A), Joe was called up to the Mets in early August 2003 due to injuries. He made his Major League debut on August 5, pinch-hitting and striking out against the Houston Astros. He only lasted one more at-bat the following day against Houston before being sent down. He retired in 2005.

DePastino has served as manager for the Detroit Tigers' Class A affiliate, West Michigan Whitecaps of the Midwest League, from 2008-2010 and the Tigers minor league-wide roving catching coordinator.

His brother, Rich played seven years in the Blue Jays organization.

(excerpted from Centerfield Maz, Baseball Almanac, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)