To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Italian American sports people or must have references showing they are Italian American sports people and are notable.
Ed Abbaticchio (1877–1957) (First Italian American to play in the major leagues using his real name, made his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1897 and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1909 World Series)
Yogi Berra (1925–2015), born Lawrence Peter Berra. Former catcher and manager in
Major League Baseball. Elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. The
Hanna-Barbera cartoon character
Yogi Bear was named after— him.
Francisco Cervelli (born 1986), catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, born in Valencia, Venezuela in 1986, but is of Italian descent; played for the Italian baseball team in the World Baseball Classic in 2009 and 2017
Phil Mickelson (born 1970) member of Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. His Italian heritage comes from his mother's side of the family. His nickname at Arizona St. was "The Roman".
Eddie Arcaro (1916–1997)
thoroughbredhorse-racingjockey. Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice.
Frank Coltiletti (1904–1987), jockey. Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.
Carmelo D'Anzi (born 1956), played professional soccer in Italy, Mexico and U.S.A.; won 7 championships and 5 leading scoring titles during his career.
Vincenzo Bernardo (born 1990), played for the
New York Red Bulls U-17 and U-19 teams from 2004-06. In 2006, he joined Italian team
Napoli, but would play only on its primavera squad. As of 2009, after declining a 2-year contract extension from Napoli, which would have seen him play, on loan, for a team in the
Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, he is a
free agent.
Frank Borghi (1925–2015), played for the U.S. national team in the 1950 World Cup.
Gianluca Busio (born 2002), Of Italian descent through his Brescia-born father and holds Italian and American citizenship. Currently plays as a midfielder for Serie A club
Venezia FC and the United States national team.
Aldo Donelli (1907–1994), played both
American football and
soccer, and is a member of the
National Soccer Hall of Fame. He scored all 4 goals for the
United States in their qualifying game victory against
Mexico for the
1934 FIFA World Cup becoming the first American to score his first three international goals with the senior team in the same match. Three days later, he would also score the USA's lone goal in their first-round elimination game against
Italy; this would be the final time an American tallied a goal on Italian soil for 58 years.
Mike Grella (born 1987), striker who played the majority of his career in England, now playing for
New York Red Bulls. His family is original from Sturno, in the province of
Avellino.
Gabriel Ferrari (born 1988), striker prospect for Italian club,
Sampdoria. Has stated intention to play on American national teams.
Tayt Ianni (born 1971), played from 1993–2000, primarily in minor and developmental leagues across the United States. His only professional stint was for the
San Jose Clash of
Major League Soccer from 1996-97. His only
cap for the
U.S. national team occurred on October 19, 1996 in a 4-1 loss to
Peru. Tayt is the brother of
Patrick Ianni.
Pablo Mastroeni (born 1976), born in Argentina of Italian descent.
Christie Rampone (born 1975), former captain of the United States women's national soccer team. She is a 3-time Olympic gold medalist, and also a 2-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion.
Giuseppe Rossi (born 1987), born in the United States to Italian immigrant parents, he also holds citizenship from Italy and plays for Italian national teams.
^[3][dead link]"ITALIAN IANNI: U.S. defender Patrick Ianni told reporters that this game will be interesting for him as he has a 75 percent Italian background. His grandparents are from Milan and Turin and he grew up an Italian soccer fan, cheering for A.C. Milan. "When I found out we were playing Italy I thought it was cool because of my background. It will be interesting, but the truth is it doesn’t really matter who we play really at this point. We just want to win."
To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Italian American sports people or must have references showing they are Italian American sports people and are notable.
Ed Abbaticchio (1877–1957) (First Italian American to play in the major leagues using his real name, made his debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1897 and played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1909 World Series)
Yogi Berra (1925–2015), born Lawrence Peter Berra. Former catcher and manager in
Major League Baseball. Elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. The
Hanna-Barbera cartoon character
Yogi Bear was named after— him.
Francisco Cervelli (born 1986), catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, born in Valencia, Venezuela in 1986, but is of Italian descent; played for the Italian baseball team in the World Baseball Classic in 2009 and 2017
Phil Mickelson (born 1970) member of Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. His Italian heritage comes from his mother's side of the family. His nickname at Arizona St. was "The Roman".
Eddie Arcaro (1916–1997)
thoroughbredhorse-racingjockey. Hall of Fame jockey who won more American classic races than any other jockey in history and is the only rider to have won the U.S. Triple Crown twice.
Frank Coltiletti (1904–1987), jockey. Hall of Fame jockey in Thoroughbred horse racing.
Carmelo D'Anzi (born 1956), played professional soccer in Italy, Mexico and U.S.A.; won 7 championships and 5 leading scoring titles during his career.
Vincenzo Bernardo (born 1990), played for the
New York Red Bulls U-17 and U-19 teams from 2004-06. In 2006, he joined Italian team
Napoli, but would play only on its primavera squad. As of 2009, after declining a 2-year contract extension from Napoli, which would have seen him play, on loan, for a team in the
Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, he is a
free agent.
Frank Borghi (1925–2015), played for the U.S. national team in the 1950 World Cup.
Gianluca Busio (born 2002), Of Italian descent through his Brescia-born father and holds Italian and American citizenship. Currently plays as a midfielder for Serie A club
Venezia FC and the United States national team.
Aldo Donelli (1907–1994), played both
American football and
soccer, and is a member of the
National Soccer Hall of Fame. He scored all 4 goals for the
United States in their qualifying game victory against
Mexico for the
1934 FIFA World Cup becoming the first American to score his first three international goals with the senior team in the same match. Three days later, he would also score the USA's lone goal in their first-round elimination game against
Italy; this would be the final time an American tallied a goal on Italian soil for 58 years.
Mike Grella (born 1987), striker who played the majority of his career in England, now playing for
New York Red Bulls. His family is original from Sturno, in the province of
Avellino.
Gabriel Ferrari (born 1988), striker prospect for Italian club,
Sampdoria. Has stated intention to play on American national teams.
Tayt Ianni (born 1971), played from 1993–2000, primarily in minor and developmental leagues across the United States. His only professional stint was for the
San Jose Clash of
Major League Soccer from 1996-97. His only
cap for the
U.S. national team occurred on October 19, 1996 in a 4-1 loss to
Peru. Tayt is the brother of
Patrick Ianni.
Pablo Mastroeni (born 1976), born in Argentina of Italian descent.
Christie Rampone (born 1975), former captain of the United States women's national soccer team. She is a 3-time Olympic gold medalist, and also a 2-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion.
Giuseppe Rossi (born 1987), born in the United States to Italian immigrant parents, he also holds citizenship from Italy and plays for Italian national teams.
^[3][dead link]"ITALIAN IANNI: U.S. defender Patrick Ianni told reporters that this game will be interesting for him as he has a 75 percent Italian background. His grandparents are from Milan and Turin and he grew up an Italian soccer fan, cheering for A.C. Milan. "When I found out we were playing Italy I thought it was cool because of my background. It will be interesting, but the truth is it doesn’t really matter who we play really at this point. We just want to win."