A Former college baseball player and American television host, Joy Taylor’s ex-husband Richard Giannotti had parents of Italian-American origin.
Richard Brandon Giannotti started his baseball journey at St. Thomas Aquinas High School and earned a scholarship to the University of Miami.
While majoring in business administration, he played for the college as an outfielder.
Following college baseball, he was drafted in 2004 by the Anaheim Angels (38th round). He played professional baseball, mainly in the minor leagues, for eight years before retiring in 2012.
TV Host Joy Taylor’s Ex-Husband, Former Minor League Baseball Player Richard Giannotti, Has Italian-American Parents!
Richard Giannotti was born on August 9, 1983, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to his parents Richard J. Giannotti Sr. and Susan Giannotti.
Both of his parents were originally from New York and were of Italian-American descent. They were passionate New York Yankees fans, a love for the team that ran deep in the family.
After being drafted, Richard gave an interview to The Baseball Historian / Seamheads, where he reflected on the moment and his family’s connection to the Yankees, saying;
My family is all from the New York and Connecticut area, and are all Yankee fans. Also, I was born and raised in South Florida, and at the time when I was younger, the Florida (Now Miami) Marlins were not in existence and the Yankees had spring training in Ft. Lauderdale, so we used to go watch them play all spring.
His father, Richard Sr., was a graduate of Providence College and served in the U.S. Army, showing early signs of discipline and public service.
Following his military service, he pursued a career in law enforcement and became an FBI agent, where he worked for several decades, mainly in the South Florida region.
Apart from his public service officer, he was a devoted family man and a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees.
Richard Sr. passed away on October 5, 2016, at the age of 71. He was remembered fondly for his moral strength and quiet guidance, especially in how he raised his son.
On the other hand, Richard’s mother, Susan Giannotti, has remained out of the media spotlight. Still, she is known to have been a constant source of support throughout Richard’s baseball and post-baseball career.
She was highly involved in her son’s athletic pursuits, never missing a single game during his youth and collegiate baseball years.
While her professional background is not publicly known, Susan played a central role in raising Richard with strong family values and emotional support, especially after the passing of her husband.
In Case You Don’t Know
- Richard has a step-sister, Leslie Rennie, from his mother, Susan Giannotti’s, other relationship.
- After divorcing Joy Taylor in 2017, Giannotti married Kristen Simigran, with whom he had a son, Banks Domenico.
- In 2008, while still playing baseball, Richard co-founded a menswear and lifestyle clothing brand called Bubucheek Clothing with two friends.
