John Beradino, born John Berardino (May 1, 1917 - May 19, 1996), was an American infielder in Major League Baseball and an actor. He was born in Los Angeles, California.

After attending the University of Southern California, where he played baseball under coach Sam Barry, he was a major league player from 1939 to 1953, save for three years of military service during World War II (1942-1945). He played second base and shortstop for the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, and Pittsburgh Pirates. The 1948 Indians won the World Series. After injuring his leg in 1953, he retired from baseball and returned to acting, having appeared in his first film in 1948.

After appearing in more than a dozen B-movies, as well as the espionage series I Led Three Lives , he was offered the role of Dr. Steve Hardy on the soap opera General Hospital. He played the role from the show's inception in 1963 until his death in 1996.

For his contribution to the television industry, Beradino has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Blvd.

Note

Known as Johnny Berardino during his baseball career, he was also credited during his acting career as John Baradino, John Barardino or John Barradino.

From the Baseball Chronology

• After three years as a regular at the beginning of his career, including a 16-HR season in 1940, Berardino became a utility man who was called a "one-man infield" for his versatility. He hit a grand slam off Yankee relief ace Johnny Murphy in 1940. After playing for the Browns, Indians, and Pirates by the end of 1950, Berardino appeared with all three teams, in the same order, over the last two years of his career. Following his release by Pittsburgh in 1952, Berardino had to hock his 1948 Indians World Series ring. He had appeared in a few of the "Our Gang" comedies as a child actor, and Bill Veeck once insured the infielder's face as a publicity stunt. Berardino dropped the second "r" from his name and returned to acting, spending over 25 years as Dr. Steve Hardy on the popular soap opera "General Hospital." -- William Brashler, at Baseball Library [1].

External links

• The Virtual Card Collection - Johnny Berardino, 1952 Topps Card # 252