Ed Abbaticchio

Edward James "Batty" Abbaticchio (April 15, 1877 – January 6, 1957) was the first Major League Baseball player and first professional football player of Italian ancestry.

Abbatticchio was primarily a shortstop and second baseman, though he also saw playing time in the outfield and at third base. Born in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, he made his Major League debut in 1897 for the Philadelphia Phillies. Ed began his baseball career in 1897 playing semi-pro baseball in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. He later played for the Boston Beaneaters and the Pittsburgh Pirates (he was on their 1909 World Series team, striking out in his only at-bat). He had initially decided to leave baseball in 1906, choosing to run a hotel instead; however, the Pirates coaxed him back, and he continued to play until 1910. He was an above-average fielder and base thief.

In addition to his baseball skills, he was among the first wave of professional football players. In 1895 he was a member of the first professional football team in the United States. In 1895, Abbaticchio was a member of the Latrobe Athletic Association football team, where he starred as a fullback and kicker. He is credited by Fielding H. Yost with developing the first spiral punt, enabling the ball to travel farther. Abbey was paid $50 a game for Latrobe.

He died in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• "The Diamond Angle" article on Edward Abbaticchio
• "Foul Poll" Snopes on a rumor about a 1908 Pirates-Cubs game.