DOMINIC SACCO

Dominic A. Sacco, graduate, University of Minnesota, distinguished himself at Washington High School playing football and baseball. A standout two-way football offensive end, running back and defensive linebacker-cornerback for three years, he was named to the 1953 All-Washington County Coaches All-Star Team and to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph All-WPIAL Team as an end.

He was the starting left end on Washington’s 1952 undefeated football team that was inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, Washington/Greene County Chapter in 1998.

One of the original Pony League players in 1951, he was the league’s first home run champion and named to the first All-Star Team. He played baseball for three years at Wash High and those teams won the Section 2 championship each year and advanced to the WPIAL semifinals twice.

His collegiate football at the University of Minnesota was cut short because of a knee injury. However, his future was in the U.S. Air Force and baseball. While performing his Air Force duties and playing baseball, Dom attended night school at the University of Minnesota, earning his undergraduate degree.

Playing baseball for Ft. Snelling AFB in Minneapolis, Minn., his team became two-time 31st. Air Division champions, Central Air Defense Force champions and a third-place winner in the NORAD and North American Air Defense Command’s Baseball World Series.

He was the 31st Air Division home run and batting champion in 1957, two-time 31st Air Division All Star and two-time 31st Air Division Outstanding Player of the Year in 1957 and 1958. He was a two time, 1957 and 1958 Central Air Defense Force All-Star, 1957 and 1958 North American Defense Command (NORAD)All-Star, 1957 and 1958 Continental Air Defense Command All Star.

In 1957, Dom became the 31st Air Divisions first member to be elected to the Elite All-United States Air Force Status and named the center fielder for the U.S. Air Force Baseball Team.