Tony Morabito | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 12, 1910 |
| Died | October 27, 1957 (aged 47) |
| Alma mater | Santa Clara University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Known for | Owner San Francisco 49ers |
| Term | 1946–1957 |
| Successor | Morabito Family |
| Board member of | San Francisco 49ers |
Anthony James Morabito (January 12, 1910 – October 27, 1957) was the founder of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL).
Following his graduation from the University of Santa Clara he had a moderately successful lumber hauling business in San Francisco, California during the late 1930s and early 1940s. He realized, however, that air travel would make coast-to-coast NFL rivalries feasible.[1] In 1944, after several years of his expansion applications being rejected by the NFL, Morabito led a visit to the NFL in Chicago. His meeting was presided over by Elmer Layden, the NFL commissioner and one of the legendary Four Horsemen of Notre Dame. Layden was dismissive of Morabito's requests.
Following that meeting, Morabito and his partners 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). On June 6, 1944, the first meeting of the AAFC was held in St. Louis.[1] 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 Ernest 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 head coach Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw. The university of Santa Clara's famous "Silver Fox", Shaw was paid the then fabulous sum of $25,000.[1]
The 49ers played their first game on August 24, 1946, a 17-7 exhibition win over the Los Angeles Dons at Balboa Park in San Diego. The 49ers first home game was played at Kezar Stadium on September 1, 1946, a 34-14 exhibition win over the Chicago Rockets in front of 45,000 .[1][2]
Morabito was seen as controversial by some, but throughout his tenure, the players supported him.[3]
- ^ a b c d "Founder: Tony Morabito". 49ers.com. Retrieved 2020-10-10.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
sscwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Rosenbaum, Art (November 4, 1957). "Tony Morabito, The Autocrat Of The San Francisco 49ers, Ran His Team With A Belligerent Disdain For Outsiders. But He Loved His Team, And Last Week He Died As He Would Have Wished—watching Them Take The Division Lead". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
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