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Card: 1959 Topps #44
Position: RHP
playerbio
Player Bio:
Vito John Valentinetti (born September 16, 1928) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. His five-year career included one full season and parts of four others in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox (1954), Chicago Cubs (1956–57), Cleveland Indians (1957), Detroit Tigers (1958), and Washington Senators (1958–59).
Vito was born in West New York, New Jersey. A graduate of Iona College, Valentinetti entered pro baseball in 1950 in the White Sox system, and missed two seasons (1952–53) while serving in the military during the Korean War. He made only one appearance for the MLB White Sox, his debut on June 20, 1954.
Vito spent the entire 1956 campaign with Cubs, working in 42 games, 40 in relief, and posting a 6–4 win–loss record, a 3.78 earned run average and one save. The following season, however, he began to bounce around: between 1957 and 1960, he was a member of four MLB teams, five minor league clubs and seven different organizations. One website calls "Vito Valentinetti" a classic Italian name.
In his Letters from Home Plate response, Vito lists Joe Dimaggio as his favorite player growing up, Ted Williams as the toughest hitter he ever faced, and Cub's Park as his favorite park to play in. His favorite teammate was Billy Martin.
(excerpted from Baseball Almanac, BR Bullpen & Wikipedia)
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tourstops
Vito is part of the Military Service during Wartime Tour – go to the Next Stop
Valentinetti is part of the Born in New Jersey Tour – Go to the Next Stop
Vito is also part of the Chicago Cubs Players Tour – Go To the Next Stop
Vito is also part of the Chicago White Sox Players Tour – Go To the Next Stop
Vito is also part of the Cleveland Indians Player Tour – Go to the Next Stop
Vito is also part of the Detroit Tigers Player Tour – Go to the Next Stop
See all Vito’s baseball cards at TCDB
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