The San Francisco 49ers, a name synonymous with West Coast football, immediately brings to mind images of gold rush history and pioneering spirit. But why exactly are they called the 49ers? The answer lies in San Francisco’s vibrant past and the vision of a man named Tony Morabito, who was determined to bring professional football to the West Coast. This is the story of how the 49ers got their name and the legacy of the man who made it all happen.
The story begins with Tony Morabito, a San Francisco native and a true pioneer of sports in the West. He envisioned a professional football team for San Francisco long before it was considered a viable sports market. In a time when the professional sports landscape was dominated by East Coast teams, Morabito passionately believed in the potential of the West Coast, and particularly San Francisco, to embrace professional football.
Even before World War II, Morabito was convinced that the San Francisco Bay Area was ripe for a National Football League franchise. The region was a hotbed for college football. Kezar Stadium would be packed with fans eager to watch local powerhouses like California-Berkeley, Stanford, St. Mary’s, Santa Clara, and the University of San Francisco battle it out. These teams regularly drew large crowds, even when playing against strong teams from the University of Washington and Southern California.
Alt text: Historic Kezar Stadium packed with enthusiastic fans during a San Francisco 49ers football game, showcasing the team’s early popularity.
Morabito, recognizing this fervent local passion for football, attempted to establish a professional team as early as 1942. He approached National Football League officials with his proposal, but his idea was quickly dismissed. Undeterred, he tried again in the spring of 1944, formally applying for an NFL expansion team. Morabito and his business associates traveled to Chicago to present their plan to League Commissioner Elmer Layden. However, the NFL, with no teams west of Chicago and no immediate plans to expand westward, once again rejected Morabito’s proposal.
It was through this rejection that Morabito connected with Arch Ward, the sports editor of The Chicago Tribune. Ward was in the process of organizing a rival league, the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Morabito saw this as his opportunity and eagerly joined Ward’s endeavor.
The inaugural meeting of the new league took place on June 6, 1944, a historically significant date – D-Day in Europe. At this meeting in St. Louis, Morabito committed to forming a San Francisco franchise in the AAFC, a league that would commence operations after the conclusion of World War II. Morabito’s timing was perfect; he sensed the post-war boom and the growing appetite for entertainment.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Morabito’s love for football was deeply rooted. He learned the game on the vacant lots of North Beach and even played halfback at St. Ignatius High School. He briefly played for the University of Santa Clara in 1927, but a shoulder injury cut his playing career short. He graduated in 1931 during the Great Depression and initially worked as a truck driver. Later, he joined his father’s ship service business, which unfortunately suffered during the depression.
As the American economy recovered, so did Morabito’s fortunes. By 1940, at the age of 30, he had become successful in the lumber carrier business. Despite being turned down for army duty in 1942 due to partial deafness, Morabito’s entrepreneurial spirit and passion for football never waned.
By 1946, the year the San Francisco 49ers played their first season, the Bay Area was experiencing a post-war economic boom. Morabito’s lumber business thrived as new houses were being built to accommodate the rapidly growing population migrating to California.
Morabito partnered with Allen E. Sorrell and E.J. Turre, his associates from Lumber Terminals of San Francisco, and his younger brother, Victor, to own the new AAFC franchise. It was Allen Sorrell who proposed the team be named “49ers,” a direct reference to the famous California Gold Rush of 1849 and the prospectors who flocked to the region in search of fortune.
Alt text: The original San Francisco 49ers logo depicting a gold miner firing pistols, symbolizing the Gold Rush era and adventurous spirit of the team.
The name “49ers” resonated deeply with the spirit of San Francisco and its history, evoking images of adventure, ambition, and the pursuit of gold. It was a perfect fit for a team representing a city built on dreams and opportunity. This name has remained the team’s identity ever since, and San Francisco has been their only home.
The original team logo further emphasized this connection to San Francisco’s wild west beginnings. It featured a gold miner, clad in boots and a lumberjack shirt, enthusiastically firing two pistols. This logo, inspired by designs seen on railway freight cars, captured the rugged and pioneering essence of the Gold Rush era.
With a franchise, a name that echoed local history, and a logo that visually represented their identity, the 49ers were ready to take shape. Morabito and his partners recruited Lawrence “Buck” Shaw, the renowned coach from Santa Clara University, as the team’s first head coach. They invested heavily, spending $250,000 to establish the organization before even playing a game. Morabito’s approach was widely regarded as “first class,” although some considered it a significant financial risk.
Morabito personally selected the inaugural roster of 32 players, including local stars from Stanford and Santa Clara, such as Frankie Albert, Norm Standlee, Bruno Banducci, and Alyn Beals. Other notable players on the roster included Len Eshmont, Johnny “Johnny Strike” Strzykalski, and Joe “The Toe” Ventrano.
The San Francisco 49ers played their first game on August 24, 1946, an exhibition victory against the Los Angeles Dons in San Diego. Their home debut at Kezar Stadium on September 1, 1946, was another exhibition win over the Chicago Rockets, witnessed by 45,000 fans, many of whom were longshoremen, mechanics, and waterfront workers – the backbone of San Francisco’s working class.
Their first regular season game on September 8, 1946, was against the New York Yankees. Despite scoring first, the 49ers lost 21-7, in a game that started in sunshine but ended in the city’s famous fog. The 49ers finished their inaugural season with a 9-5 record under Shaw and continued to be a strong team in the AAFC.
When the AAFC dissolved at the end of 1949, the San Francisco 49ers, along with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Colts, were absorbed into the NFL in 1950. This merger fulfilled Morabito’s long-held ambition of bringing his team into the premier professional football league.
Tony Morabito remained the heart and soul of the 49ers organization until his untimely death in 1957. His passion, vision, and commitment laid the foundation for the San Francisco 49ers to become one of the NFL’s most iconic and successful franchises. So, the next time you hear the name “San Francisco 49ers,” remember it’s more than just a team name – it’s a tribute to the California Gold Rush and the pioneering spirit of a city, brought to life by the unwavering dedication of Tony Morabito.
