Who is Vito Valentinetti?

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 21 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #3,854 in Sports, #85,322 overall

If you're into baseball, you may have heard of this 1950s sports figure!

It was January 2008 that I discovered my mother's first cousin, my second cousin, is actually married to Vito John Valentinetti! Pretty cool. Well, what better reason for me to compose this Squidoo lens to showcase 'people who matter' such as Vito Valentinetti!

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"A special thank you to Vito, Mary Ann and Micah Valentinetti for all the helpful info for this lens!"

Bernardo Valentinetti Family

In the picture above ...

The Vito shown is Vito's namesake uncle Vito. The two on the right are this Vito's mother Antoinette and his father Giuseppe Valentinetti. The two little ones are Vito's oldest sister Mary and his oldest brother Ben.

Vito Valentinetti circa 1954

Vito Valentinetti Vitals ...

Vito Valentinetti was born on Sunday, September 16, 1928, in West New York, New Jersey. Valentinetti was 25 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 20, 1954, with the Chicago White Sox.

Vito Valentinetti Stats

Whitey, Vito, the Stick, and the Mick

More info on Vito Valentinetti 

By Mary Ann Valentinetti, January 2008

Vito went to the Manhattan School of Aviation at the same time as Whitey Ford. Together, he and Whitey played baseball and as luck and hard work would have it, the boys from the Bronx went on to the big leagues which in itself was a credit to his talent and hard work. Vito graduated from Iona College in New Rochelle, New York on a baseball scholarship, and missed making the baseball vested system pension by a few short months, due to his being called to service by the U.S. army during the Korean War.

Vito and his first wife had 10 children before she passed away in 1979. He married Mary Ann Jason in 1987 and together they are proud grandparents of 18 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

His baseball injury contributed to his short terms with certain teams. Vito was not out of baseball for good. He worked for both the Mets and NY Yankees as a warm-up pitcher before the games began, when they were in town. He finished that part of his career in 1994. His career in the New York State Department of Office Administration consisted of 27 years when he retired in 1995.

A few years back he was honored in Detroit at the opening of the new stadium with other Tiger old timers. An engraved brick with his name graces the entrance to the stadium along with all the other players. He was also honored recently in Hoboken, New Jersey as they celebrated 100 years of baseball. He and other New Jersey born players were honored in a car driven parade and saluted by the mayor, governor and other celebrities.

Vito still receives every day, admiring fan letters from persons who followed his career during the greatest years in baseball .... the 1950s. To this day, it is a dream hard to accomplish to make the big leagues. You had to see him to appreciate his talent as apparently a lot of old timers do. Vito definitely did not just fade away!

Valentinetti Baseball Transactions 

Before 1950 Season: Signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent.

Before 1955 Season: Sent from the Chicago White Sox to the Charleston (American Association) in an unknown transaction.

November 27, 1955: Drafted by the Chicago Cubs from the Toronto (International) in the 1955 rule 5 draft.

May 23, 1957: Traded by the Chicago Cubs with Jackie Collum to the Brooklyn Dodgers for Don Elston.

August 24, 1957: Purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Brooklyn Dodgers.

March 27, 1958: Traded by the Cleveland Indians with Milt Bolling to the Detroit Tigers for Pete Wojey and $20,000.

June 23, 1958: Traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Washington Senators for Al Cicotte.

April 1, 1959: Traded by the Washington Senators to the Baltimore Orioles for Billy Loes. Trade was voided and players returned on April 8, 1959.

April 8, 1959: Sent by the Baltimore Orioles to the Washington Senators to complete an earlier deal made on April 1, 1959. The Baltimore Orioles sent Billy Loes to the Washington Senators for Vito Valentinetti. Trade was voided and players returned on April 8, 1959.

The transaction information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by RetroSheet. Last transaction is September 30, 2007. --www.baseball-reference.com.

Vito and Mary Ann Valentinetti November 2007

Vito and Mary Ann Valentinetti November 2007

The buzz on Vito Valentinetti 

1957 Cleveland Indians season
Notable transactions. August 24, 1957: Vito Valentinetti was purchased by the Indians from the Brook...
Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem bets hold steady in third week ...
AP Photo | RICK SMITHVito Valentinetti reacts with his wife Mary Ann after a win while playing the s...
Familiar sights, sounds — and nostalgia — at Bethlehem Sands ...
Vito Valentinetti reacts with his wife Mary Ann after a win while playing a slot machine at the Sand...
Saturday Name That Cub - Bleed Cubbie Blue
I still have my 1958 Topps Vito Valentinetti baseball card. And I'd be happy to sell it to you for 3...

Take me out to the ball game -- Cleveland Indians 

Indians `TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME`

Cleaveland Indians Jacobs Field

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Buy a Cleveland Indians cap 

Cleveland Indians MVP Adjustable Cap

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Cleveland Indians MVP Adjustable Cap MVP caps have official MLB team logo embroidered on front and name embroidered on adjustable velcro back strap.

Valentinetti Memorabilia 1959 

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Some Washington Senators videos 

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1952 Washington Senators baseb...

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Washington Senators 1957 & 195...

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1961 baseball season opener

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Buy a Washington Senators cap 

Washington Senators 1953-60 Cooperstown Cap

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This American Needle Cooperstown Classic cap is an authentic replica of the caps worn by the teams of yesteryear. Fitted. Wool blend. Regular profile.

Valentinetti Memorabilia 1958 

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Some Detroit Tigers videos 

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DETROIT TIGERS Talkin' Basebal...

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Detroit Tigers Baseball

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VINTAGE VERSION Detroit Tigers...

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Buy a Detroit Tigers cap 

Detroit Tigers MVP Adjustable Cap

Amazon Price: $12.10 (as of 07/13/2009)Buy Now

Detroit Tigers MVP Adjustable Cap MVP caps have official MLB team logo embroidered on front and name embroidered on adjustable velcro back strap.

Valentinetti Memorabilia 1957 

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Some Chicago Cubs videos 

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Chicago Cubs Baseball

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Wrigley Field Photos - Chicago...

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DAYTON, Ohio Cincinnati Reds C...

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Chicago Cubs Franchise Fitted Baseball Cap

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Founded in 1946, Twins Enterprise is the creator of The Franchise, their signature cap that is always the perfect fit. Twins has the exclusive rights to create fitted, relaxed caps for Major League Baseball.

Baseball 1950s ~ books 

Baseball Players of the 1950s: A Biographical Dictionary of All 1,560 Major Leaguers

Amazon Price: $55.00 (as of 07/13/2009) Buy Now

Joey Valentinetti, Vito's nephew 

Info from Mary Ann Valentinetti

Joey Valentinetti was Vito's nephew, the son of Vito's brother Frank [grandparents: Giuseppe and Antoinette]. Joey died two years ago from a massive heart attack on The Major Deegan northbound, NYC after picking up an uncle at LaGuardia coming in for a birthday party.

Joey worked with his father Frank Valentinetti who owned a tool and die factory in Mt. Vernon, NY. After Frank sold the business, Joey stayed on for awhile but became more and more involved with family history findings.

He was involved with music, had a small band and produced a few CDs. Involved with charitable causes, he worked for his church and was active with feeding the hungry.

Joey's wife, Suzanna, continues to run her business: Both Ends of the Leash in which she boards and trains dogs from all over. The business is located in the Croton-on-Hudson, NY. [For more info on Suzanna's business, see below.]

Find more info on Vito Valentinetti 

Valentinetti Family Photos
A variety of family photos of Giuseppe Valentinetti and his family.
Joey Valentinetti Portal Page
This site showcases the many interests of Joey Valentinetti along with a page of Valentinetti Family Photos.
Joey Valentinetti - Click For Lessons
Joey began teaching while studying at Fordham University in the 60's and 70's. Guitar, bass, mandolin and keyboard. Joey began his career performing solo accordion while still in grammar school in Westchester in 1963. He moved quickly to guitar, bass and piano. Playing rock and folk from the 60's to the 80's in the clubs and coffeehouses of New York City in such groups as the Flying Bonzini Brothers, Jezebel Louise, The Shoes and The Spoons. With The New Light String Ensemble, Joey made it to Carnegie Recital Hall playing their brand of traditional Eastern music. He widened his repertoire with Irish jigs and reels when he began performing in the 90's with Reynolds and Cowan. To this widely versatile acoustic group featuring fiddle, guitar, celtic harp, banjo, hammer dulcimer, Joey adds guitar, bass, mandolin and accordion. Joey has written many contemporary songs and performed with Mark Rivera of Billy Joel' s band, Steve Luongo of the John Entwistle band and with Michael Latini currently comprises Bonzini Latini. Ace Frehly and Joey played in a band that did only Animals covers in high school. Joey tries his best and is largely successful in being able to recognize what a student needs to learn in order for the individual to learn on his own.
Both Ends of the Leash
Set amid the rolling hills of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, Both Ends of the Leash offers a safe, secure environment for your pet to begin to learn the basics of polite social behavior. Suzanna Valentine [Valentinetti] has worked with the most highly respected trainers here in the U.S. and employs a program which suits your individual pet's temperament and your life-style.

Mrs. Vito Valentinetti

She's written a poem: Miracle On The Hudson - Flight 1549

My second cousin Mary Ann Valentinetti November 2008

Mary Ann Valentinetti high school

Another pic of Mary Ann Valentinetti

Drop me a line ... 

Are you into baseball? Per chance, remember baseball of the 1950s? Did you know of Vito Valentinetti or even know him personally -- I'd really love to hear from you!

KimGiancaterino wrote...

Beautiful job, Julie -- a living scrapbook. Squid Angel Blessed.

ReplyPosted June 25, 2009

lilkon wrote...

The "good old days" are great to reminisce over. Baseballs all the rage this time of year and king of sports no matter what the age. Loved the lens.

ReplyPosted May 24, 2009

 
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