Tony Morabito

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Morabito's path to founding the 49ers started with rejection. In 1944, after years of the NFL turning down his expansion bids, he led a visit to the league's Chicago offices. NFL commissioner Elmer Layden, one of the legendary Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, was dismissive of Morabito's requests. So Morabito and his partners walked across the street to see Arch Ward, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, who was organizing a rival league, the All-America Football Conference. On June 6, 1944, the AAFC held its first meeting in St. Louis, and Morabito agreed to form a San Francisco franchise. His partners included his brother Victor P. Morabito, Allen E. Sorrell, and Ernest J. Turre. Al Ruffo handled legal work while serving as assistant coach to head coach Lawrence T. "Buck" Shaw, the University of Santa Clara's famous "Silver Fox," who was paid $25,000. The 49ers' first regular-season home game at Kezar Stadium on September 1, 1946, drew 45,000 fans for a 34–14 win over the Chicago Rockets. Morabito was seen as controversial by some, but throughout his tenure, the players supported him.

In Their Own Story

On October 27, 1957, Tony Morabito died of a heart attack while watching the 49ers play the Chicago Bears at Kezar Stadium. He had suffered a coronary occlusion in 1952 and had been living on "borrowed time." Doctors urged him to get out of football, citing the dangerous, high emotional factors of the game. The 49ers were losing 17–7 when a note reading "Tony's gone" was passed to the coach. The team stormed back for a 21–17 upset victory. After his death, majority control passed to his widow Josephine and his brother Victor. Most of the remaining lumber business partners had sold their interest after the 1946 season. Following Victor's death in 1964, Tony's and Victor's widows, Josephine and Jane, retained control until 1977, when Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. took over. Josephine Morabito, known as Josephine Morabito-Fox after 1975, was one of the first women ever to hold a majority ownership in a professional sports team.

Reader's Guide

The Morabito Era (1944–1957) covers the founding and early years of the San Francisco 49ers. Key events: In 1944, after NFL rejections, Morabito joined the AAFC and secured a San Francisco franchise. The 49ers played their first game on August 24, 1946, a 17–7 exhibition win over the Los Angeles Dons at Balboa Park in San Diego. Their first home game at Kezar Stadium was September 1, 1946, a 34–14 exhibition win over the Chicago Rockets in front of 45,000 fans. Morabito died of a heart attack at Kezar Stadium on October 27, 1957, while the 49ers were playing the Chicago Bears. The team was losing 17–7 when a note reading "Tony's gone" was passed to the coach; they rallied to win 21–17. After his death, his widow Josephine and brother Victor took majority control. Josephine Morabito-Fox held majority ownership until 1977, making her one of the first women to hold majority ownership in a professional sports team.

Did You Know?

• Morabito died of a heart attack while watching the 49ers play the Chicago Bears at Kezar Stadium on October 27, 1957.
• The 49ers were losing 17–7 when a note reading 'Tony's gone' was passed to the coach; they rallied to win 21–17.
• Morabito had suffered a coronary occlusion in 1952 and was living on 'borrowed time.'
• His widow Josephine Morabito-Fox was one of the first women ever to hold a majority ownership in a professional sports team.
• The 49ers' first regular-season home game at Kezar Stadium on September 1, 1946, drew 45,000 fans.