Who is Vito Valentinetti?

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!

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.]

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