Joe Vitelli
Birth dateApril 12, 1908
Birth placeMcKees Rocks, Pennsylvania
Death dateFebruary 7, 1967 (aged 58)
Death placePittsburgh, Pennsylvania
BatsRight
ThrowsRight
DebutleagueMLB
DebutdateMay 30
Debutyear1944
DebutteamPittsburgh Pirates
FinaldateMay 30
Finalyear1945
FinalleagueMLB
FinalteamPittsburgh Pirates
StatleagueMLB
Stat1labelWin–loss record
Stat1value0–0
Stat2labelEarned run average
Stat2value2.57
Stat3labelStrikeouts
Stat3value2
Teams

Antonio Joseph Vitelli (April 12, 1908 – February 7, 1967) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1944 and 1945. The 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m), 195 lb (88 kg) right-hander was a native of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.

Biography

Vitelli is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II. He made his major league debut at age 36 on May 30, 1944 in a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field. The Pirates' game on May 21 was suspended due to the Sunday blue laws and completed on July 5.[1] He appeared in the final inning of suspended game, but since statistical data is labeled with the original date of the game, some sources list his debut as May 21.

Vitelli made four relief appearances for Pittsburgh in 1944 and finished all four games. In a total of seven innings pitched he gave up six runs, but only two of them were earned runs. His ERA was 2.57. His only 1945 appearance was as a pinch runner.

Death

Vitelli died in 1967 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

References

  1. ^ "Philadelphia Phillies 9, Pittsburgh Pirates 4 (2)". retrosheet.org. May 21, 1944. Retrieved August 27, 2018. The game was suspended after 8 innings; Vitelli participated in the 9th inning played July 5.