Great Stories of Italian Americans

Italian Americans have made a remarkable contribution to the history of sports in Western Pennsylvania. The following are some of the most important Italian American sporting personalities from our region and their contributions to their respective sports.

Edward “Batty” Abbaticchio

Many of the greatest players ever to play the game of baseball have Italian names. Few know, however, that the first Italian American major leaguer actually came from Western Pennsylvania. Born in Latrobe to Italian immigrant parents, Ed Abbaticchio played professional baseball for Philadelphia, Boston, and Pittsburgh. A skilled batter, his career lasted from 1897 until 1910. His success in the major leagues paved the way for future Italian American success in baseball. Abbaticchio was inducted into the Hall of Fame Pittsburgh chapter in

Sammy “The Clutch” Angott

Boxing was a particularly popular sport among Italian Americans living in Western Pennsylvania. A Washington, Pa., native, Sammy Angott earned the nickname “Clutch” because of his tendency to grab and grapple with his opponent after landing blows. On December 19, 1941, he won the World Lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Lew Jenkins. At the time, five of the eight boxers with world championship titles were from Western Pennsylvania. Angott, whose real name was Samuel Engotti, was one of many Italian Americans to earn distinction in the sport of boxing. Angott was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame (posthumously) in 1988.

Aldo “Buff” Donelli

One of the greatest American soccer players in history, Aldo Donelli began his soccer career at the age of 15 when he joined the Morgan Strasser soccer club in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. He went on to a brilliant amateur soccer career, and was the only American to score a goal in the 1934 World Cup match between the United States and world powerhouse Italy. In an earlier match, he scored four goals against Mexico. Donelli also excelled at football, playing for Duquesne University from 1926 to 1929. He then went on to a professional coaching career. Donelli was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1954, and into the Pittsburgh Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1987

Andy “Kid” DePaul

Pittsburgh-native Andy “Kid” DePaul won 82 of his 92 amateur boxing bouts. In 1947, he won the 135-pound weight class title in the Eastern Regional Golden Gloves championships. After turning pro, he was ranked as the No. 9 middleweight contender of the world. DePaul, whose real name was DePaolo, fought under an Americanized name. DePaul dedicated his life to the sport of boxing, later becoming a professional referee and the Pennsylvania Boxing Commissioner. DePaul was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986.

Bruno Sammartino

An Italian immigrant who settled in Pittsburgh, Bruno Sammartino represents the classic immigrant rags-to-riches success story. Escaping the poverty of post-war Italy, Sammartino came to Pittsburgh in 1950 and embarked on a regimen of fitness and good health. He became one of the greatest professional wrestlers in history by winning heavyweight titles in 1963 and 1973. During his rise to celebrity status, he became an idol to thousands of Italian Americans nationwide. In December of 2000, a statue was erected in his hometown of Pizzoferrato in his honor. Sammartino was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986.

Franco Harris

A New Jersey native, Franco Harris was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972. In his first season, the running back’s cutting deceptive style earned him over one thousand yards rushing and the AFC Rookie of the Year award. Over his next eleven seasons with the Steelers, Harris was selected to nine Pro Bowl appearances and led the team to four Super Bowl victories. Coupled with his gridiron prowess, Harris’s mixed African- and Italian-American ancestry made him a celebrity in the local Italian American community and they created a highly-publicized fan group called Franco’s Italian Army. Harrris was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986.

Joseph Natoli

In 1950, Joe Natoli founded the Morningside Bulldogs in order to prepare young boys for high school football. Over the course of the next 30 years, Natoli’s energetic and impassioned coaching style was a key ingredient in the Bulldog’s success. One of the most successful youth football teams in the country, the bulldogs compiled a stellar record of 271 wins, 19 losses, and 9 ties. In 1980, the city of Pittsburgh rewarded Natoli’s lifetime commitment to Morningside by renaming the neighborhood football field in his honor. Natoli was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986.

Chip Ganassi

Chip Ganassi helped bring Western Pennsylvania to the forefront of auto racing. In 1982, as a race car driver, Ganassi finished as the fastest rookie in the Indianapolis 500 – 15th place overall. Switching gears in 1988, he left the driver’s seat in order to form Target Ganassi Racing. In 2000, Target Ganassi driver Juan Montoya captured the checkered flag at the Indianapolis 500. Ganassi was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1988.

Dan Marino

Born and raised in an Italian-American family in the working-class Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland, Dan Marino played high school football at nearby Central Catholic High School. An accomplished baseball player, Marino turned down a signing bonus with the Kansas City Royals in order to stay home and play football at Pitt. He went on to lead the Panthers to three consecutive 11-1 seasons and was a contender for the Heisman Trophy in 1981. His professional career began and ended with the Miami Dolphins, where he set a staggering 30 NFL records. He is highly regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. An important force in his son’s professional sports career, Dan Marino, Sr. was honored by the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986.






	GREAT STORIES (“SOME OF OUR GREATS”) Italian Americans have made a remarkable contribution to the history of sports in Western Pennsylvania. The following are some of the most important Italian American sporting personalities from our region and their contributions to their respective sports. Edward “Batty” Abbaticchio Many of the greatest players ever to play the game of baseball have Italian names. Few know, however, that the first Italian American major leaguer actually came from Western Pennsylvania. Born in Latrobe to Italian immigrant parents, Ed Abbaticchio played professional baseball for Philadelphia, Boston, and Pittsburgh. A skilled batter, his career lasted from 1897 until 1910. His success in the major leagues paved the way for future Italian American success in baseball. Abbaticchio was inducted into the Hall of Fame Pittsburgh chapter in Sammy “The Clutch” Angott Boxing was a particularly popular sport among Italian Americans living in Western Pennsylvania. A Washington, Pa., native, Sammy Angott earned the nickname “Clutch” because of his tendency to grab and grapple with his opponent after landing blows. On December 19, 1941, he won the World Lightweight title with a unanimous decision over Lew Jenkins. At the time, five of the eight boxers with world championship titles were from Western Pennsylvania. Angott, whose real name was Samuel Engotti, was one of many Italian Americans to earn distinction in the sport of boxing. Angott was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame (posthumously) in 1988. Aldo “Buff” Donelli One of the greatest American soccer players in history, Aldo Donelli began his soccer career at the age of 15 when he joined the Morgan Strasser soccer club in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. He went on to a brilliant amateur soccer career, and was the only American to score a goal in the 1934 World Cup match between the United States and world powerhouse Italy. In an earlier match, he scored four goals against Mexico. Donelli also excelled at football, playing for Duquesne University from 1926 to 1929. He then went on to a professional coaching career. Donelli was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1954, and into the Pittsburgh Italian American Sports Hall of Fame in 1987 Andy “Kid” DePaul Pittsburgh-native Andy “Kid” DePaul won 82 of his 92 amateur boxing bouts. In 1947, he won the 135-pound weight class title in the Eastern Regional Golden Gloves championships. After turning pro, he was ranked as the No. 9 middleweight contender of the world. DePaul, whose real name was DePaolo, fought under an Americanized name. DePaul dedicated his life to the sport of boxing, later becoming a professional referee and the Pennsylvania Boxing Commissioner. DePaul was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986. Bruno Sammartino An Italian immigrant who settled in Pittsburgh, Bruno Sammartino represents the classic immigrant rags-to-riches success story. Escaping the poverty of post-war Italy, Sammartino came to Pittsburgh in 1950 and embarked on a regimen of fitness and good health. He became one of the greatest professional wrestlers in history by winning heavyweight titles in 1963 and 1973. During his rise to celebrity status, he became an idol to thousands of Italian Americans nationwide. In December of 2000, a statue was erected in his hometown of Pizzoferrato in his honor. Sammartino was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986. Franco Harris A New Jersey native, Franco Harris was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1972. In his first season, the running back’s cutting deceptive style earned him over one thousand yards rushing and the AFC Rookie of the Year award. Over his next eleven seasons with the Steelers, Harris was selected to nine Pro Bowl appearances and led the team to four Super Bowl victories. Coupled with his gridiron prowess, Harris’s mixed African- and Italian-American ancestry made him a celebrity in the local Italian American community and they created a highly-publicized fan group called Franco’s Italian Army. Harrris was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986. Joseph Natoli In 1950, Joe Natoli founded the Morningside Bulldogs in order to prepare young boys for high school football. Over the course of the next 30 years, Natoli’s energetic and impassioned coaching style was a key ingredient in the Bulldog’s success. One of the most successful youth football teams in the country, the bulldogs compiled a stellar record of 271 wins, 19 losses, and 9 ties. In 1980, the city of Pittsburgh rewarded Natoli’s lifetime commitment to Morningside by renaming the neighborhood football field in his honor. Natoli was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986. Chip Ganassi Chip Ganassi helped bring Western Pennsylvania to the forefront of auto racing. In 1982, as a race car driver, Ganassi finished as the fastest rookie in the Indianapolis 500 – 15th place overall. Switching gears in 1988, he left the driver’s seat in order to form Target Ganassi Racing. In 2000, Target Ganassi driver Juan Montoya captured the checkered flag at the Indianapolis 500. Ganassi was inducted into the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1988. Dan Marino Born and raised in an Italian-American family in the working-class Pittsburgh neighborhood of Oakland, Dan Marino played high school football at nearby Central Catholic High School. An accomplished baseball player, Marino turned down a signing bonus with the Kansas City Royals in order to stay home and play football at Pitt. He went on to lead the Panthers to three consecutive 11-1 seasons and was a contender for the Heisman Trophy in 1981. His professional career began and ended with the Miami Dolphins, where he set a staggering 30 NFL records. He is highly regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. An important force in his son’s professional sports career, Dan Marino, Sr. was honored by the Pittsburgh Hall of Fame in 1986.

GREAT STORIES (“SOME OF OUR GREATS”)