Taking Care of Business:Johnny Berardino

Johnny Berardino played eleven seasons of major league baseball. While playing mostly 2nd base and shortstop, Berardino batted .249 with 755 hits over his career. Berardino retired from baseball after the 1952 season.
Previous to his baseball career, Berardino acted in the Our Gang comedies. After retiring from baseball, he resumed his acting career full time.
Many years ago, when I contacted Berardino, he told me, "I had been thinking about leaving the game as early as 1947 to concentrate on acting. Few people know that I was acting before I played baseball or even while I played! I always loved to act as a kid."
Aside from his uncredited role in the Our Gang series, Berardino had several roles, starting with the Trainer in The Winner's Circle in 1948. He continued to get steady work, but in 1963 he landed the biggest, longest and most well-known role of his career.
On April 1, 1963, General Hospital debuted, with Beradino (note the new spelling) in the role of Dr. Steve Hardy, one of the main characters. Beradino remained in that role for just over 33 years, until his death in May of 1996.
The multi-talented Beradino left his mark. He remains the only person to have won a World Series and to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Beradino was a child actor who became a solid baseball player who became a solid actor. That's quite a resume.

John Berardino's 1951 Bowman baseball card.

John Beradino as Dr. Steve Hardy-1960's.