He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1960 to 1974 for the St. Louis Cardinals (1960–61), New York Mets (1962–65), Pittsburgh Pirates (1968), San Diego Padres (1969–71, 1974), Chicago Cubs (1971), and Los Angeles Dodgers (1972–73).

[1] Cannizzaro was born in Oakland, California and attended San Leandro High School.

[1] He became the Cubs regular catcher after Randy Hundley was forced to sit out the season due to an injury.

On December 17, 1971, Cannizzaro was selected off waivers from the Cubs by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

[1] He did the majority of the catching for the Dodgers in 1972 as the team finished in second place in the National League.