There’s a storied history of Italian Americans making an impression in sports. While hundreds have competed professionally, some special ones stand out. The most prominent Italian American athletes dominated across decades in various disciplines.
Rocky Marciano
A championship fighter rarely goes through their career unscathed. All it takes is one lucky punch to attach an “L” to their name, and the sport’s best boxers all have at least one blemish on their resume. Rocky Marciano did what Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Mike Tyson failed to do in his career, finishing with an undefeated 49-0 record.
Surprisingly, Marciano wasn’t the inspiration behind the most legendary fictional boxer, Rocky Balboa. The basis of the “Rocky” character was Chuck Wepner, who lost to Ali by TKO in the fifteenth round. However, Philadelphia’s favorite son allegedly mimicked the unbeaten boxer’s fighting style.
Mario Andretti
The name Andretti is synonymous with racing thanks to its patriarch. Race fans widely consider Mario Andretti the greatest American driver in motorsports because of his massive success in many competitions.
Andretti has the distinction of winning Driver of the Year in three different decades (1967, 1978, and 1984), along with several F1 Championships throughout his remarkable career. His son Michael and his grandson Marco continued his legacy, even if the so-called “Andretti Curse” kept the family from winning the Indianapolis 500 ever since Mario won it in 1969.
Alicia Sacramone
Before Simone Biles rewrote the U.S. Gymnastics record book, Alicia Sacramone staked her claim as the country’s most successful gymnast. Sacramone was a main cog on the 2008 Olympic squad, captaining her team to a silver medal in the overall team competition. Sacramone called it a career in 2012 before marrying former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn. The lovely couple has three amazing daughters, who will be a dominant force in whatever athletic endeavors they explore.
Yogi Berra
The Yankees had no shortage of clutch hitters who had postseason success, with Yogi Berra being the franchise’s greatest man behind the plate. Berra won a staggering 10 World Series titles once he called it quits in 1965, a record that still holds today. Besides the 10 rings he won donning the pinstripes, Berra won three MVPs while being the runner-up twice. In most circumstances, it’s hard to argue that Berra accomplished the most as an Italian-American athlete, but he’s not even on top for the Bronx Bombers.
Joe DiMaggio
You know you lived an extraordinary life when you’re a subject in the Paul Simon song “Mrs. Robinson.” Joe DiMaggio’s accolades off the field are impressive, but they pale compared to what he did on it. Aside from his untouchable 56-game hitting streak, the “Yankee Clipper” has some eye-popping statistics peppered throughout his Hall of Fame career, leading to his .325 career batting average.
The most prominent Italian-American athletes have made lasting marks in their sports. They leave a legacy that competitors after them can shoot for, hoping to accomplish a tenth of what they did. Although, it will be tough to surpass the guy who played centerfield for the Yankees and married Marilyn Monroe.