Tony Morabito
Encyclopedia
Anthony J. "Tony" Morabito, a University of Santa Clara
alumnus who had been moderately successful during the late 1930s and early 1940s in the lumber hauling business in San Francisco, California
realized that air travel would make feasible a coast-to-coast rivalry in football.
In 1944, after several years of rejection of expansion applications by the NFL, Morabito led a visit to the NFL in Chicago. During that meeting Elmer Layden
, the league commissioner and one of the legendary Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, who was presiding asked, according to Tony's Santa Clara
teammate, longtime friend, partner and lawyer Al Ruffo several patronizing questions. According to Ruffo, Layden then said, "Well, sonny, you better go out and get a football first and then come back."
Ruffo recalled that Tony was furious, and "Worst of all, he called Tony sonny." They walked across the street to see Arch Ward
, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune
who was trying to organize a rival league, the All-America Football Conference
(AAFC). "We told him we were ready to join up", Ruffo recalled. On June 6, 1944 (D-Day in Europe), the first meeting of the AAFC was held in St. Louis. Morabito agreed to form a franchise in San Francisco, with the AAFC set to start play after the end of the war.
Tony, his brother Victor P. Morabito, and his partners in the Lumber Terminals of San Francisco, Allen E. Sorrell and E.J. Turre became the founding owners of the soon to be San Francisco 49ers
. Al Ruffo did the legal work while serving as the assistant coach to Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw's
. Santa Clara's famous "Silver Fox", Shaw was paid the then fabulous sum of $25,000.
at Kezar Stadium
. Having suffered a coronary occlusion in 1952 Tony had been living on "borrowed time". Doctors citing the dangerous, high emotional factors of football urged him to get out of football the sport. The 49ers were losing, 17-7 when a note "Tony's gone" was passed to the coach. Turning away numerous Chicago touchdown onslaughts in the fourth period, they stormed back for a 21-17 upset victory.
After Tony died, majority control of the club passed on to his widow Josephine, and to his brother Victor after most of the remaining partners from the lumber business sold their interest after the 1946 season.
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
alumnus who had been moderately successful during the late 1930s and early 1940s in the lumber hauling business in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
realized that air travel would make feasible a coast-to-coast rivalry in football.
In 1944, after several years of rejection of expansion applications by the NFL, Morabito led a visit to the NFL in Chicago. During that meeting Elmer Layden
Elmer Layden
Elmer Francis Layden was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he starred at fullback as a member of the legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield...
, the league commissioner and one of the legendary Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, who was presiding asked, according to Tony's Santa Clara
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
teammate, longtime friend, partner and lawyer Al Ruffo several patronizing questions. According to Ruffo, Layden then said, "Well, sonny, you better go out and get a football first and then come back."
Ruffo recalled that Tony was furious, and "Worst of all, he called Tony sonny." They walked across the street to see Arch Ward
Arch Ward
Arch Ward was the sports editor for the Chicago Tribune and personal friend of the owner, Robert R. McCormick. He created the MLB All-Star Game, the All-America Football Conference , the Golden Gloves amateur boxing tournament and the College All-Star Game. Ward was twice offered the job as...
, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
who was trying to organize a rival league, the All-America Football Conference
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
(AAFC). "We told him we were ready to join up", Ruffo recalled. On June 6, 1944 (D-Day in Europe), the first meeting of the AAFC was held in St. Louis. Morabito agreed to form a franchise in San Francisco, with the AAFC set to start play after the end of the war.
Tony, his brother Victor P. Morabito, and his partners in the Lumber Terminals of San Francisco, Allen E. Sorrell and E.J. Turre became the founding owners of the soon to be San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. Al Ruffo did the legal work while serving as the assistant coach to Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw's
Buck Shaw
Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw was an American football player and coach. He served as the head coach for Santa Clara University, the University of California, Berkeley, the San Francisco 49ers, the United States Air Force Academy, and the Philadelphia Eagles...
. Santa Clara's famous "Silver Fox", Shaw was paid the then fabulous sum of $25,000.
Death
On October 27, 1957, Tony Morabito died of a heart attack while watching the 49ers play the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
at Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium is a stadium located adjacent to Kezar Pavilion in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. It is the former home of the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, and of the San Francisco Dragons of MLL. It also served as the home of the...
. Having suffered a coronary occlusion in 1952 Tony had been living on "borrowed time". Doctors citing the dangerous, high emotional factors of football urged him to get out of football the sport. The 49ers were losing, 17-7 when a note "Tony's gone" was passed to the coach. Turning away numerous Chicago touchdown onslaughts in the fourth period, they stormed back for a 21-17 upset victory.
After Tony died, majority control of the club passed on to his widow Josephine, and to his brother Victor after most of the remaining partners from the lumber business sold their interest after the 1946 season.