John Tosi accepted a scholarship offer from Fordham following his high school career.
24 Facts About John Tosi
1.
2.
John Tosi played one season at Fordham, before being brought by a coach to Niagara University.
3.
John Tosi played two games as a Pirate before being traded to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
4.
John Tosi started one game in Brooklyn before being released; he spent the following four seasons in minor leagues, retiring in 1943.
5.
John Tosi unretired in 1944 and joined the Philadelphia Eagles, appearing in one game.
6.
John Tosi retired again in 1945, made a return in 1946, and then retired a final time.
7.
John Tosi was born on December 3,1913, in Wilmington, Delaware, to Antonio and Antonetta John Tosi.
8.
John Tosi attended high school at Salesianum School in Wilmington.
9.
Under coach Johnny Oakes with Salesianum, Tosi earned All-Catholic and All-Philadelphia honors.
10.
John Tosi was offered many scholarships after graduating high school, including from Notre Dame.
11.
John Tosi spent just one year at Fordham, playing guard alongside future Pro Football Hall of Famer Vince Lombardi.
12.
John Tosi played three seasons at Niagara, earning All-Catholic and All-East honors while playing center and linebacker.
13.
John Tosi became the first Niagara player ever to be selected in the draft and one of just eight Niagara attendees to participate professionally.
14.
John Tosi was assigned number 64 with the Pirates, and made one start in three games with them.
15.
John Tosi was sold to the Brooklyn Dodgers shortly before the Pirates' game against the Washington Redskins, after making just three appearances.
16.
John Tosi played for two teams in minor leagues that year, making one appearance for the Paterson Panthers before going to the local Wilmington Clippers.
17.
John Tosi appeared in four games with the Clippers, starting two.
18.
John Tosi was on their 1940 roster but did not play.
19.
John Tosi then retired, but in 1944, high school teammate Ed Michaels convinced him to make a return to football.
20.
John Tosi did, playing alongside Michaels as a guard for the Philadelphia Eagles.
21.
John Tosi was paid $375 per game under coach Greasy Neale, the most Tosi earned in his career.
22.
John Tosi retired in 1961 but later took a job with the NKS beer distributors in Wilmington.
23.
John Tosi was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1982, the Southside Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993, and the Niagara University Sports Hall of Fame at some point.
24.
John Tosi died on November 24,2002, in his hometown, Wilmington, Delaware.