Sports and the Family

Having compiled quite a bit of research on the family, there are ties to some people who are associated with major league soccer, the NFL and MLB

The Morabito brothers, Victor and Anthony, owned the San Francisco 49ers from the inaugural season of the franchise in 1946 in the All-American Football Conference until Victor's death in 1964. Victor became the managing owner of the team upon his brother, Anthony's, untimely death of a heart attack in 1957. Victor ran the team until his death in 1964. Victor and Anthony's wives owned the team until they sold the team to Edward "Eddie" Debartolo in 1977.  Victor and Anthony were my 5th cousins 2x removed (through their mother, Marianna D'Acquisto). I connect to them through my 5th great-grandparents of Giovanni Leonardo D'Acquisto (1702 - ?) and Rose Majorana.

The San Francisco Giants have been a staple in the Bay Area since 1958.  Mario Alioto, the Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations, has been part of the organization starting as a bat boy for the club in 1973, served as the visiting clubhouse manager for a few years and then became part of the front office in 1983. Mario is my 3rd cousin 1x removed and is related closer to me through his maternal grandfather, Mariano Machi. We connect through my 3rd great-grandparents of Gaetano Andrea Machi (1819 - 1900) and Concetta Tarantino (1826 - 1913)

William Harold "Bill" Terry was a famous Hall of Fame baseball player for the New York Giants from 1923-1936, earning a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 1954.  He compiled a .341 batting average over a great career. He was my 11th cousin 4x removed. It doesn't sound like much, but, hey, we were related through my mother's side of the family (which was not Alioto). We connect through my 14th great-grandparents Robert Terry (1490 - 1567) and Alice Archer (1490 - 1570)

Robert Peter "Bobby" Geren was a major league baseball player for 5 seasons, playing for the Yankees and the Padres. He predominantly played as a Catcher. After his playing days were over in 1993, he became a coach and managed for 5 seasons for the Oakland Athletics. He finished with a 334-376 lifetime record. Bobby is my 5th cousin 2x removed and is related to me through the Alioto side of the family. We connect through my 6th great-grandparents Nunzio Galioto (1729-1782) and Pietra Isabella Rosa Agata Machi (1724- bef 1823)

Nick Aliotti was an American Football coach for several colleges (including Oregon, Chico State and UCLA to name a few) and was the special teams coach for the St. Louis Rams from 1995-1997. He ended his coaching career with the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football in 2019. He is my 7th cousin on my dad's side of the family. We connect through my 6th great-grandparents Carmelo Vincenzo Balistreri (1719-bef 1826) and Carmela Anna Bellanti (1715-bef 1826)

Anthony Peter Aliotti was a 15th Round Draft pick in 2009 for the Oakland A's. He played in Minor League Baseball from 2009-2015 and hit .282 collecting 821 hits,  including 166 doubles, 6 triples and 53 home runs in 2913 at-bats. He is my 7th cousin 1x removed on my dad's side of the family, and nephew of Nick Aliotti listed above. We connect through my 6th great-grandparents Carmelo Vincenzo Balistreri (1719-bef 1826) and Carmela Anna Bellanti (1715-bef 1826)

Patrick Charles Weigel pitched for the Tacoma Rainiers over the last few years and made it to "The Show" in 2020 as a Seattle Mariner. He pitched in a few big league games in 2021 as well. He is my 4th cousin 1x removed on my mother's side of the family (on my maternal grandfather's side of the family). We connect through my 3rd great-grandparents Peter Rohleder (1816-1880) and Katharina Niederquell (1816 - ?)

Thomas "Tommy" Alioto was a professional American soccer player. He played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He is a member of the Wisconsin Soccer Association Hall of Fame. He is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my father's side of the family

Timothy Victor Alioto was an American soccer player for the Kansas City Comets and the Milwaukee Wave. He is the twin brother to Thomas. He is my 5th cousin 2x removed on my father's side of the family

We connect through my 6th great-grandparents Giovanni Ignacio Bellanti (1743 - ?) and Giovanna Giuseppa Rosa Incandela (1751-1834)

Matt Capurro is the Senior Vice President of Coaching Operations for the Las Vegas Raiders. Matt has worked for the Oakland Raiders, USC Trojans, and the Seattle Seahawks for the past 15 years. Matt is my 2nd cousin on my dad's side of the family. We connect through my great-grandparents Francesco "Frank" Alioto (1896-1964) and Maria Concetta Balestrieri (1899-1993)

The Yankee Clipper, Joseph DiMaggio, isn't directly related to the Alioto family, but he is related through marriage. Joe was also a friend of my grandfather, Mario Alioto Sr. Joe would call my grandfather by his nickname, "Brother" -- I didn't find out about this until a few years after my grandfather died. I would have loved to have told Mr. DiMaggio that I was "Brother's grandson" -- however, the few times I met him on Marina Greens in San Francisco, I only said hello to him and never introduced myself. Each time I said hello, Mr. DiMaggio was a very humble and nice man. He is actually closer related to my paternal grandmother's side of the family

Thomas "Tommy" Tarantino - He was a minor league baseball player from 1955 - 1959. He played catcher and played in the outfield.  He was my 6th cousin 1x remoed on my paternal grandmother's side of the family. We connect through my 6th great-grandparents Giovanni Battista Tarantino (1705-1765) and Vincenza Angela Bellanti (1710- bef 1822)

Gregory Alan Dreiling - 7'1" Center who played 10 years in the NBA. Played for the Kansas Jayhawks in college. Started at Wichita State before transferring. He played for the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is my 5th cousin. We connect through 4th great-grandparents on my maternal grandfather's side of the family Johann Adam Friedrich Pfeifer (1799-1846) and Justina Katharina Billinger (1804-1844).

John Francis D'Acquisto - my 5th cousin 1x removed on my paternal grandfather's lineage. John played in the major leagues from 1973-1982 for six teams, including the Oakland A's, the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres. Sadly, some off-the-field incidents got him in trouble with the law after his playing career was over. We connect through my 6th great-granparents Antonino Giuseppe Balistreri (1737-1820) and Stefana Savona (1743-1820)