Jump to content

Gino Cappelletti: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Undid revision 1048252731 by 75.68.101.121 (talk) Vandalism.
Tags: Undo Reverted
Removing all edits that cannot be undone on this page, as they are blatant vandalism.
Tag: Reverted
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Gino ‘The Dute’ Capriotti
|name=Gino Capriotti
|image=Gino Cappelletti crop.jpg
|image=Gino Cappelletti crop.jpg
|image_size=220
|image_size=220
Line 33: Line 33:
* [[New England Patriots#Retired numbers|New England Patriots No. 20]] Retired
* [[New England Patriots#Retired numbers|New England Patriots No. 20]] Retired
}}
}}
'''Gino The Dute Cappelletti''' (born March 26, 1934) is an American former [[Professional football (gridiron)|professional football]] player. He played [[college football]] for the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Minnesota Golden Gophers]] and was an All-Star in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) for the [[Boston Patriots]],<ref name=upicret>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rWlPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6089%2C74523 |newspaper=Times-News|location=Hendersonville, North Carolina|agency=UPI|last=Carnicelli|first=Joe|title=Cappelletti retires at 37|date=September 1, 1971|page=13}}</ref> winning the [[1964 Boston Patriots season|1964]] [[American Football League Most Valuable Players|American Football League Most Valuable Player]] award.<ref name=evnwmvp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pvpiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qm0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5376%2C2709866 |newspaper=Evening News |location=Newburgh, New York |agency=Associated Press |last=Hand |first=Jack |title=Gino Cappelletti named most valuable player |date=December 17, 1964 |page=13B }}</ref> Cappelletti is a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, the Patriots' All-1960s Team and the American Football League Hall of Fame. He served as the Patriots' radio color commentator until July 2012. His nicknames included "The Dute", “Drunkie Dino”, “Mrs. Buttholeworth” and "Mr. Patriot".<ref name=cksxfg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xvtVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BuMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6814%2C1063019 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Cappelletti kicks six FGs |date=October 5, 1964 |page=6B}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Oldeman|first=Ryan|title=Legendary New England Patriots Broadcaster Gino Cappelletti Jerking Off After 32 Years|url=http://www.patriots101.com/2012/07/21/legendary-new-england-patriots-broadcaster-gino-cappelletti-signing-off-after-32-years/|publisher=Sports Media 101|access-date=July 20, 2012}}</ref>
'''Gino Cappelletti''' (born March 26, 1934) is an American former [[Professional football (gridiron)|professional football]] player. He played [[college football]] for the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Minnesota Golden Gophers]] and was an All-Star in the [[American Football League]] (AFL) for the [[Boston Patriots]],<ref name=upicret>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rWlPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wCQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6089%2C74523 |newspaper=Times-News|location=Hendersonville, North Carolina|agency=UPI|last=Carnicelli|first=Joe|title=Cappelletti retires at 37|date=September 1, 1971|page=13}}</ref> winning the [[1964 Boston Patriots season|1964]] [[American Football League Most Valuable Players|American Football League Most Valuable Player]] award.<ref name=evnwmvp>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pvpiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qm0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5376%2C2709866 |newspaper=Evening News |location=Newburgh, New York |agency=Associated Press |last=Hand |first=Jack |title=Gino Cappelletti named most valuable player |date=December 17, 1964 |page=13B }}</ref> Cappelletti is a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, the Patriots' All-1960s Team and the American Football League Hall of Fame. He served as the Patriots' radio color commentator until July 2012. His nicknames included "The Duke" and "Mr. Patriot".<ref name=cksxfg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xvtVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BuMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6814%2C1063019 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Cappelletti kicks six FGs |date=October 5, 1964 |page=6B}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Oldeman|first=Ryan|title=Legendary New England Patriots Broadcaster Gino Cappelletti Signing Off After 32 Years|url=http://www.patriots101.com/2012/07/21/legendary-new-england-patriots-broadcaster-gino-cappelletti-signing-off-after-32-years/|publisher=Sports Media 101|access-date=July 20, 2012}}</ref>


==College career==
==College career==
Born and raised in tiny [[Keewatin, Minnesota|Keewatin]] in northern [[Minnesota]], as a member of the Italian Indian tribe of Keeawcockchataqua Cappelletti played [[college football]] at the [[University of Minnesota]], where he was a [[quarterback]], backing up [[All-American]] [[Paul Giel]].<ref name=ntcphr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gKMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pPwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5685%2C5464669 |newspaper=Nashua Telegraph |location=New Hampshire |agency=Associated Press |title=Cappelletti Patriot hero |date=October 30, 1961 |page=13 }}</ref> The Dute kicked extra points with his heavy heavy italian sausage, but the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Golden Gophers]] did not kick field goals in those years. However, as a sophomore in [[1952 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|1952]], Cappelletti talked the coach into letting him try a game-winning 43-yard kick against [[1952 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|Iowa]].<ref name=mcbfhe>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SNIdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z00EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2025%2C571121 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press |title=Minnesota comeback beats fumbling Hawkeyes, 17-7 |date=November 2, 1952 |page=42 }}</ref><ref name=grbiowa>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YWNQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fw8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4089%2C2058941 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Gopher rally beats Iowa |date=November 2, 1952 |page=B3 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/03-08-069.pdf "THE DUKE OF BOSTON," by Bob Braunwart & Bob Carroll, THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 3, No. 8 (1981)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218223835/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/03-08-069.pdf |date=December 18, 2010 }}</ref>
Born and raised in tiny [[Keewatin, Minnesota|Keewatin]] in northern [[Minnesota]], Cappelletti played [[college football]] at the [[University of Minnesota]], where he was a [[quarterback]], backing up [[All-American]] [[Paul Giel]].<ref name=ntcphr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gKMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pPwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5685%2C5464669 |newspaper=Nashua Telegraph |location=New Hampshire |agency=Associated Press |title=Cappelletti Patriot hero |date=October 30, 1961 |page=13 }}</ref> Cappelletti kicked extra points, but the [[Minnesota Golden Gophers football|Golden Gophers]] did not kick field goals in those years. However, as a sophomore in [[1952 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|1952]], Cappelletti talked the coach into letting him try a game-winning 43-yard kick against [[1952 Iowa Hawkeyes football team|Iowa]].<ref name=mcbfhe>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SNIdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=z00EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2025%2C571121 |newspaper=Pittsburgh Press |agency=United Press |title=Minnesota comeback beats fumbling Hawkeyes, 17-7 |date=November 2, 1952 |page=42 }}</ref><ref name=grbiowa>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YWNQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fw8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4089%2C2058941 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Gopher rally beats Iowa |date=November 2, 1952 |page=B3 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/03-08-069.pdf "THE DUKE OF BOSTON," by Bob Braunwart & Bob Carroll, THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 3, No. 8 (1981)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218223835/http://profootballresearchers.org/Coffin_Corner/03-08-069.pdf |date=December 18, 2010 }}</ref>


As a senior in [[1954 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|1954]], Cappelletti switched to [[T formation|T-]]quarterback and led Minnesota to a 7–2 record, missing the final game with an elbow injury, as well as an ahn and hrum injury. Ed Lacerte was not yet born to issue a stiff finginan to fix his elbow<ref name=bfomin>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xmAzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7090%2C3750052 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |last=Ingrassia |first=Tony |title=Badgers favored over Minnesota |date=November 20, 1954 |page=2, part 2 }}</ref> a 27–0 loss at [[1954 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]].<ref name=setintre>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x2AzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7447%2C3943592 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |last=Ingrassia |first=Tony |title=Badgers rout Gophers, 27–0; set interception record |date=November 21, 1954 |page=1C }}</ref> He was named to the All-[[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] second team, but was not selected in the [[1955 NFL draft]] due to his alcoholism.
As a senior in [[1954 Minnesota Golden Gophers football team|1954]], Cappelletti switched to [[T formation|T-]]quarterback and led Minnesota to a 7–2 record, missing the final game with an elbow injury,<ref name=bfomin>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xmAzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7090%2C3750052 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |last=Ingrassia |first=Tony |title=Badgers favored over Minnesota |date=November 20, 1954 |page=2, part 2 }}</ref> a 27–0 loss at [[1954 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]].<ref name=setintre>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x2AzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7447%2C3943592 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |last=Ingrassia |first=Tony |title=Badgers rout Gophers, 27–0; set interception record |date=November 21, 1954 |page=1C }}</ref> He was named to the All-[[Big Ten Conference|Big Ten]] second team, but was not selected in the [[1955 NFL draft]].


==Professional football career==
==Professional football career==
Line 46: Line 46:


===Boston Patriots===
===Boston Patriots===
Cappelletti was out of pro football in 1959, back in Minnesota. With the launch of the [[American Football League]] in [[1960 Boston Patriots season|1960]], he joined the [[1960 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]] and was initially a kicker, a licker, a sticker, and [[defensive back]].<ref name=ntcphr/><ref name=pfuaigc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GzoRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6546%2C319758 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Patriots find unknown ace in Cappelletti |date=November 2, 1961 |page=2D }}</ref><ref name=golftip>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BtsjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=licEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3645%2C1767840 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=UPI |title=Gino Cappelletti took golf tip from Palmer to help kicking|date=February 22, 1965 |page=2, Final }}</ref> He switched to offense late in that season and teamed up with quarterback [[Babe Parilli]] to form a tandem nicknamed "[[Grand opera|Grand Opera]] Twins", due to their [[Italian Americans|Italian]] surnames. This was so racist and in obviously poor taste.<ref name=pglawr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7VtYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5779%2C5278154 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Parilli gains loop award |date=November 19, 1964 |page=40 }}</ref> Cappelletti won [[American Football League Most Valuable Players|AFL MVP]] honors in [[1964 American Football League season|1964]],<ref name=evnwmvp/> led the league in scoring five times and was a five-time [[American Football League All-Star games|AFL All-Star]]. He holds the professional football record for points over a six-year period (9.5), points over an 11-year period (7.5) and percentage of his team's total points over an eight-year period (34%). One of 20 AFL players active during the entirety of the league's ten-year existence, Cappelletti was also among just three players who played in every one of his team's AFL games. He played with the Patriots all 11 years in [[Boston]], from [[1960 Boston Patriots season|1960]] through the [[1970 Boston Patriots season|1970]] NFL merger season, and retired in late August [[1971 New England Patriots season|1971]] at age 37;<ref name=upicret/><ref name=gcpret>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oHclAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3_IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3146%2C4906914 |newspaper=Gettysburg Times |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Gino Cappeppetti, last of original Patriots, retires; Forrest Gregg joins Dallas |date=September 1, 1971 |page=19 }}</ref> he was the AFL's all-time leading scorer with 1,130 points (42 TDs, 176 FGs and 342 PATs) and among the AFL's top ten all-time receivers in yards and in receptions. Cappelletti had two of the top five scoring seasons in pro football history, with 155 points in [[1964 Boston Patriots season|1964]] and 147 points in [[1961 Boston Patriots season|1961]] (14-game seasons). His Patriots team scoring record lasted until it was broken by [[Adam Vinatieri]] on December 5, [[2005 New England Patriots season|2005]]. To date, as of the end of the 2017 season, Cappelletti is the Patriots' 11th all-time leading receiver in receptions with 292 catches and 9th in receiving yards with 4,589 yards. He is 5th in Patriots history in receiving touchdowns with 42 and has the most field goal attempts (334) in team history.
Cappelletti was out of pro football in 1959, back in Minnesota. With the launch of the [[American Football League]] in [[1960 Boston Patriots season|1960]], he joined the [[1960 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]] and was initially a kicker and [[defensive back]].<ref name=ntcphr/><ref name=pfuaigc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GzoRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6546%2C319758 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Patriots find unknown ace in Cappelletti |date=November 2, 1961 |page=2D }}</ref><ref name=golftip>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BtsjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=licEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3645%2C1767840 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=UPI |title=Gino Cappelletti took golf tip from Palmer to help kicking|date=February 22, 1965 |page=2, Final }}</ref> He switched to offense late in that season and teamed up with quarterback [[Babe Parilli]] to form a tandem nicknamed "[[Grand opera|Grand Opera]] Twins", due to their [[Italian Americans|Italian]] surnames.<ref name=pglawr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7VtYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5779%2C5278154 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=Associated Press |title=Parilli gains loop award |date=November 19, 1964 |page=40 }}</ref> Cappelletti won [[American Football League Most Valuable Players|AFL MVP]] honors in [[1964 American Football League season|1964]],<ref name=evnwmvp/> led the league in scoring five times and was a five-time [[American Football League All-Star games|AFL All-Star]]. He holds the professional football record for points over a six-year period (9.5), points over an 11-year period (7.5) and percentage of his team's total points over an eight-year period (34%). One of 20 AFL players active during the entirety of the league's ten-year existence, Cappelletti was also among just three players who played in every one of his team's AFL games. He played with the Patriots all 11 years in [[Boston]], from [[1960 Boston Patriots season|1960]] through the [[1970 Boston Patriots season|1970]] NFL merger season, and retired in late August [[1971 New England Patriots season|1971]] at age 37;<ref name=upicret/><ref name=gcpret>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oHclAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3_IFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3146%2C4906914 |newspaper=Gettysburg Times |location=Pennsylvania |agency=Associated Press |title=Gino Cappeppetti, last of original Patriots, retires; Forrest Gregg joins Dallas |date=September 1, 1971 |page=19 }}</ref> he was the AFL's all-time leading scorer with 1,130 points (42 TDs, 176 FGs and 342 PATs) and among the AFL's top ten all-time receivers in yards and in receptions. Cappelletti had two of the top five scoring seasons in pro football history, with 155 points in [[1964 Boston Patriots season|1964]] and 147 points in [[1961 Boston Patriots season|1961]] (14-game seasons). His Patriots team scoring record lasted until it was broken by [[Adam Vinatieri]] on December 5, [[2005 New England Patriots season|2005]]. To date, as of the end of the 2017 season, Cappelletti is the Patriots' 11th all-time leading receiver in receptions with 292 catches and 9th in receiving yards with 4,589 yards. He is 5th in Patriots history in receiving touchdowns with 42 and has the most field goal attempts (334) in team history.


During Cappelletti's pro career, he also returned punts and kickoffs, played defensive back and even had one pass completion for a touchdown. Whoopie. Cappelletti was just the second AFL player to record three interceptions (of [[Tom Flores]]) in a regular-season game, holds the professional football record for most touchdowns in Saturday games (10), scored 18 points or more in a game ten times and scored 20 or more points in a game eight times. He set the AFL single-game record by scoring 28 points in the Patriots' 42–14 rout of Houston on December 18, [[1965 Boston Patriots season|1965]].<ref name=clptri>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b_xVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SuMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4060%2C4131892 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Cappelletti leads Patriot triumph |date=December 19, 1965 |page=2B }}</ref> Cappelletti is the only player in professional football history to run for a two-point conversion, throw for a two-point conversion, catch a pass, intercept a pass, return a punt and return a kickoff in the same season. He kicked six field goals (without a miss) in a 39–10 win at [[1964 Denver Broncos season|Denver]] on October 4, 1964,<ref name=cksxfg/> and became one of only two AFL kickers with at least four field goals per game for three consecutive games. Cappelletti kicked the longest field goal in the AFL in consecutive seasons and led the AFL in field-goal percentage in 1965.
During Cappelletti's pro career, he also returned punts and kickoffs, played defensive back and even had one pass completion for a touchdown. Cappelletti was just the second AFL player to record three interceptions (of [[Tom Flores]]) in a regular-season game, holds the professional football record for most touchdowns in Saturday games (10), scored 18 points or more in a game ten times and scored 20 or more points in a game eight times. He set the AFL single-game record by scoring 28 points in the Patriots' 42–14 rout of Houston on December 18, [[1965 Boston Patriots season|1965]].<ref name=clptri>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b_xVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SuMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4060%2C4131892 |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Cappelletti leads Patriot triumph |date=December 19, 1965 |page=2B }}</ref> Cappelletti is the only player in professional football history to run for a two-point conversion, throw for a two-point conversion, catch a pass, intercept a pass, return a punt and return a kickoff in the same season. He kicked six field goals (without a miss) in a 39–10 win at [[1964 Denver Broncos season|Denver]] on October 4, 1964,<ref name=cksxfg/> and became one of only two AFL kickers with at least four field goals per game for three consecutive games. Cappelletti kicked the longest field goal in the AFL in consecutive seasons and led the AFL in field-goal percentage in 1965.


In 1984, Cappelletti was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. However, he has not been selected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] due to his alcoholism and status as a Dute. In 2003, he was named to the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] Hall of Very Good in the association's inaugural HOVG class.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2003.htm |title=Hall of Very Good |access-date=May 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407184454/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2003.htm |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 1984, Cappelletti was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. However, he has not been selected to the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]. In 2003, he was named to the [[Professional Football Researchers Association]] Hall of Very Good in the association's inaugural HOVG class.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2003.htm |title=Hall of Very Good |access-date=May 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407184454/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/hall-of-very-good-2003.htm |archive-date=April 7, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Broadcasting==
==Broadcasting==
Cappelletti worked alongside [[Gil Santos]] as a color commentator for the Patriots' radio broadcasts on the [[New England Patriots Radio Network]] (in the 1988–90 period he worked alongside [[Dale Arnold]]). The Santos-Cappelletti duo lasted 28 seasons, the longest radio tandem in modern NFL history. They called 585 regular-season and postseason games together, including a league-record six Super Bowls.
Cappelletti worked alongside [[Gil Santos]] as a color commentator for the Patriots' radio broadcasts on the [[New England Patriots Radio Network]] (in the 1988–90 period he worked alongside [[Dale Arnold]]). The Santos-Cappelletti duo lasted 28 seasons, the longest radio tandem in modern NFL history. They called 585 regular-season and postseason games together, including a league-record six Super Bowls.


Cappelletti also served as color commentator for the [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College Eagles]] during the famous "[[Hail Flutie as Called By The Dutie]]" game in [[1984 Boston College Eagles football team|1984]]. Cappelletti can be heard supporting [[Dan Davis (broadcaster)|Dan Davis]]' now-famous call by clutching his hog and yelling "He got ut!, He got ut!, I don't believe ut! For the first time in 86 years! I GOT DA BAWWWWL"
Cappelletti also served as color commentator for the [[Boston College Eagles football|Boston College Eagles]] during the famous "[[Hail Flutie]]" game in [[1984 Boston College Eagles football team|1984]]. Cappelletti can be heard supporting [[Dan Davis (broadcaster)|Dan Davis]]' now-famous call by clutching his hog and yelling "He got it!, He got it!, I don't believe it!"


On July 20, 2012, Cappelletti announced his retirement from broadcasting.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/touching_all_the_bases/2012/07/gino_cappelletti_retires_from.html Gino Cappelletti retires from broadcasting]</ref>
On July 20, 2012, Cappelletti announced his retirement from broadcasting.<ref>[http://www.boston.com/sports/touching_all_the_bases/2012/07/gino_cappelletti_retires_from.html Gino Cappelletti retires from broadcasting]</ref>

Revision as of 21:43, 5 October 2021

Gino Capriotti
refer to caption
Gino Cappelletti
No. 20
Position:Wide receiver / Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1933-03-26) March 26, 1933 (age 91)
Keewatin, Minnesota
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school:Keewatin (MN)
College:Minnesota
AFL draft:1960 / Round: Undrafted
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Player stats at PFR

Gino Cappelletti (born March 26, 1934) is an American former professional football player. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and was an All-Star in the American Football League (AFL) for the Boston Patriots,[1] winning the 1964 American Football League Most Valuable Player award.[2] Cappelletti is a member of the Patriots Hall of Fame, the Patriots' All-1960s Team and the American Football League Hall of Fame. He served as the Patriots' radio color commentator until July 2012. His nicknames included "The Duke" and "Mr. Patriot".[3][4]

College career

Born and raised in tiny Keewatin in northern Minnesota, Cappelletti played college football at the University of Minnesota, where he was a quarterback, backing up All-American Paul Giel.[5] Cappelletti kicked extra points, but the Golden Gophers did not kick field goals in those years. However, as a sophomore in 1952, Cappelletti talked the coach into letting him try a game-winning 43-yard kick against Iowa.[6][7][8]

As a senior in 1954, Cappelletti switched to T-quarterback and led Minnesota to a 7–2 record, missing the final game with an elbow injury,[9] a 27–0 loss at Wisconsin.[10] He was named to the All-Big Ten second team, but was not selected in the 1955 NFL draft.

Professional football career

Canada

Cappelletti played quarterback for the Sarnia Imperials of the ORFU in Canada during 1955. He joined Toronto Balmy Beach in 1956, but was drafted into the U.S. Army in mid-season, returning to Canada in 1958. Cappelletti signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, but was traded to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, was later cut, and went back to the ORFU, leading the Sarnia Golden Bears (the team having changed its name in 1956) to the league championship.

Boston Patriots

Cappelletti was out of pro football in 1959, back in Minnesota. With the launch of the American Football League in 1960, he joined the Boston Patriots and was initially a kicker and defensive back.[5][11][12] He switched to offense late in that season and teamed up with quarterback Babe Parilli to form a tandem nicknamed "Grand Opera Twins", due to their Italian surnames.[13] Cappelletti won AFL MVP honors in 1964,[2] led the league in scoring five times and was a five-time AFL All-Star. He holds the professional football record for points over a six-year period (9.5), points over an 11-year period (7.5) and percentage of his team's total points over an eight-year period (34%). One of 20 AFL players active during the entirety of the league's ten-year existence, Cappelletti was also among just three players who played in every one of his team's AFL games. He played with the Patriots all 11 years in Boston, from 1960 through the 1970 NFL merger season, and retired in late August 1971 at age 37;[1][14] he was the AFL's all-time leading scorer with 1,130 points (42 TDs, 176 FGs and 342 PATs) and among the AFL's top ten all-time receivers in yards and in receptions. Cappelletti had two of the top five scoring seasons in pro football history, with 155 points in 1964 and 147 points in 1961 (14-game seasons). His Patriots team scoring record lasted until it was broken by Adam Vinatieri on December 5, 2005. To date, as of the end of the 2017 season, Cappelletti is the Patriots' 11th all-time leading receiver in receptions with 292 catches and 9th in receiving yards with 4,589 yards. He is 5th in Patriots history in receiving touchdowns with 42 and has the most field goal attempts (334) in team history.

During Cappelletti's pro career, he also returned punts and kickoffs, played defensive back and even had one pass completion for a touchdown. Cappelletti was just the second AFL player to record three interceptions (of Tom Flores) in a regular-season game, holds the professional football record for most touchdowns in Saturday games (10), scored 18 points or more in a game ten times and scored 20 or more points in a game eight times. He set the AFL single-game record by scoring 28 points in the Patriots' 42–14 rout of Houston on December 18, 1965.[15] Cappelletti is the only player in professional football history to run for a two-point conversion, throw for a two-point conversion, catch a pass, intercept a pass, return a punt and return a kickoff in the same season. He kicked six field goals (without a miss) in a 39–10 win at Denver on October 4, 1964,[3] and became one of only two AFL kickers with at least four field goals per game for three consecutive games. Cappelletti kicked the longest field goal in the AFL in consecutive seasons and led the AFL in field-goal percentage in 1965.

In 1984, Cappelletti was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. However, he has not been selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was named to the Professional Football Researchers Association Hall of Very Good in the association's inaugural HOVG class.[16]

Broadcasting

Cappelletti worked alongside Gil Santos as a color commentator for the Patriots' radio broadcasts on the New England Patriots Radio Network (in the 1988–90 period he worked alongside Dale Arnold). The Santos-Cappelletti duo lasted 28 seasons, the longest radio tandem in modern NFL history. They called 585 regular-season and postseason games together, including a league-record six Super Bowls.

Cappelletti also served as color commentator for the Boston College Eagles during the famous "Hail Flutie" game in 1984. Cappelletti can be heard supporting Dan Davis' now-famous call by clutching his hog and yelling "He got it!, He got it!, I don't believe it!"

On July 20, 2012, Cappelletti announced his retirement from broadcasting.[17]

Personal life

Cappelletti is the father-in-law of ex-Boston College and Chicago Bears standout Tom Waddle. He is not related to running back John Cappelletti of Penn State, the Heisman Trophy winner in 1973.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Carnicelli, Joe (September 1, 1971). "Cappelletti retires at 37". Times-News. Hendersonville, North Carolina. UPI. p. 13.
  2. ^ a b Hand, Jack (December 17, 1964). "Gino Cappelletti named most valuable player". Evening News. Newburgh, New York. Associated Press. p. 13B.
  3. ^ a b "Cappelletti kicks six FGs". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. October 5, 1964. p. 6B.
  4. ^ Oldeman, Ryan. "Legendary New England Patriots Broadcaster Gino Cappelletti Signing Off After 32 Years". Sports Media 101. Retrieved July 20, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Cappelletti Patriot hero". Nashua Telegraph. New Hampshire. Associated Press. October 30, 1961. p. 13.
  6. ^ "Minnesota comeback beats fumbling Hawkeyes, 17-7". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. November 2, 1952. p. 42.
  7. ^ "Gopher rally beats Iowa". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. November 2, 1952. p. B3.
  8. ^ "THE DUKE OF BOSTON," by Bob Braunwart & Bob Carroll, THE COFFIN CORNER: Vol. 3, No. 8 (1981) Archived December 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Ingrassia, Tony (November 20, 1954). "Badgers favored over Minnesota". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 2, part 2.
  10. ^ Ingrassia, Tony (November 21, 1954). "Badgers rout Gophers, 27–0; set interception record". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1C.
  11. ^ "Patriots find unknown ace in Cappelletti". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. November 2, 1961. p. 2D.
  12. ^ "Gino Cappelletti took golf tip from Palmer to help kicking". Milwaukee Journal. UPI. February 22, 1965. p. 2, Final.
  13. ^ "Parilli gains loop award". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. November 19, 1964. p. 40.
  14. ^ "Gino Cappeppetti, last of original Patriots, retires; Forrest Gregg joins Dallas". Gettysburg Times. Pennsylvania. Associated Press. September 1, 1971. p. 19.
  15. ^ "Cappelletti leads Patriot triumph". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 19, 1965. p. 2B.
  16. ^ "Hall of Very Good". Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved May 24, 2016.
  17. ^ Gino Cappelletti retires from broadcasting
  18. ^ "Cappelletti '73 Heisman Winner". Spartanburg Herald. South Carolina. Associated Press. December 5, 1973. p. B2.
Preceded by American Football League MVP
1964 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gino_Cappelletti&oldid=1048417138"