Sam DeLuca
Encyclopedia
Saverio Frank "Sam" DeLuca (May 2, 1936 September 13, 2011) was an American Professional Football
offensive lineman in the American Football League
and later a radio and television football coverage broadcaster. He played six seasons, three for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers
and three for the New York Jets
. He was a member of the 1969 New York Jet Championship season on IR. After football, he had a long career in sports broadcasting. He was the radio color commentator
on the Jets broadcasts on WABC-AM and then WOR-AM before working telecasts for NBC Sports and on the Jets’ pre-season games in the 1970s and 1980s. He went to Lafayette High School
(Brooklyn
) with Sandy Koufax
, Larry King
and Fred Wilpon
.
from 1954 through 1956. As a starting offensive tackle
, he played for head coach
es Rex Enright
in his first two seasons and Warren Giese
as a senior
. DeLuca graduated with a Bachelor's degree
in Education
in 1957. He was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame
in 2005. He was also honored by the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
DeLuca was selected in the second round (23rd overall) by the New York Giants
in the 1957 National Football League (NFL) Draft
. He signed with the Giants for US $7,000 a year with a $500 bonus
. He was to have succeeded starting offensive lineman Bill Austin
, who was strongly considering retirement at the time. When Austin decided to play one more year, DeLuca was sent to the Canadian Football League
's Toronto Argonauts
, where he spent three seasons from 1957 through 1959.
games on WABC-FM
in 1968 and 1969. Phil Pepe, then a baseball writer
for the Daily News who had graduated a year ahead of DeLuca at Lafayette High School, helped him prepare for the assignment.
at his home in Pelham, New York
on September 13, 2011.
Professional football
In the United States and Canada, the term professional football includes the professional forms of American and Canadian gridiron football. In common usage, it refers to former and existing major football leagues in either country...
offensive lineman in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
and later a radio and television football coverage broadcaster. He played six seasons, three for the Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and three for the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was a member of the 1969 New York Jet Championship season on IR. After football, he had a long career in sports broadcasting. He was the radio color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
on the Jets broadcasts on WABC-AM and then WOR-AM before working telecasts for NBC Sports and on the Jets’ pre-season games in the 1970s and 1980s. He went to Lafayette High School
Lafayette High School
Lafayette High School is the name of many secondary schools in the United States, among them:*Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Alabama*Lafayette High School in Mayo, Florida*Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Georgia...
(Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
) with Sandy Koufax
Sandy Koufax
Sanford "Sandy" Koufax is a former left-handed baseball pitcher who played his entire 12-year Major League Baseball career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers...
, Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
and Fred Wilpon
Fred Wilpon
Fred Wilpon is a real estate developer, baseball executive and the majority owner of the New York Mets.-Biography:...
.
Playing career
DeLuca was a three-year letterman in football at the University of South CarolinaSouth Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
from 1954 through 1956. As a starting offensive tackle
Tackle (American football)
Tackle is a playing position in American and Canadian football. Historically, in the one-platoon system a tackle played on both offense and defense. In the modern system of specialized units, offensive tackle and defensive tackle are separate positions....
, he played for head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
es Rex Enright
Rex Enright
Rex Edward Enright was an American football and basketball player, coach, and college athletics administrator. He played college football and college basketball at the University of Notre Dame in the 1920s...
in his first two seasons and Warren Giese
Warren Giese
Warren Giese is an American former South Carolina state legislator and college football coach. He served as the head football coach for the South Carolina Gamecocks for five years at the University of South Carolina....
as a senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
. DeLuca graduated with a Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
in 1957. He was inducted into the University of South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame
South Carolina Gamecocks
The University of South Carolina's 19 varsity sports teams are known as the "Gamecocks". The unique moniker is held in honor of Thomas Sumter, a South Carolina war hero who was given the name "The Carolina Gamecock" during the American Revolution for his fierce fighting tactics, regardless of his...
in 2005. He was also honored by the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.
DeLuca was selected in the second round (23rd overall) by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1957 National Football League (NFL) Draft
1957 NFL Draft
The 1957 National Football League Draft was held on November 27, 1956.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
. He signed with the Giants for US $7,000 a year with a $500 bonus
Signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive to the employee, e.g., if the annual salary is lower than he or she desires...
. He was to have succeeded starting offensive lineman Bill Austin
Bill Austin
William Lee Austin is a former American football player and coach in the National Football League, having played for the New York Giants for seven seasons and served as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1966 to 1968.Bill played for Oregon State University in college, earning All-Coast...
, who was strongly considering retirement at the time. When Austin decided to play one more year, DeLuca was sent to the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
's Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, where he spent three seasons from 1957 through 1959.
Broadcasting career
DeLuca's first regular sportscasting assignment was hosting the pre- and postgame shows for New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
games on WABC-FM
WPLJ
WPLJ is a radio station in New York City owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media. WPLJ shares studio facilities with sister station WABC inside 2 Penn Plaza in midtown Manhattan, and its transmitter is atop the Empire State Building. The station currently plays a Hot Adult...
in 1968 and 1969. Phil Pepe, then a baseball writer
Sports journalism
Sports journalism is a form of journalism that reports on sports topics and events.While the sports department within some newspapers has been mockingly called the toy department, because sports journalists do not concern themselves with the 'serious' topics covered by the news desk, sports...
for the Daily News who had graduated a year ahead of DeLuca at Lafayette High School, helped him prepare for the assignment.
Death
DeLuca died at age 75 of pancreatic cancerPancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
at his home in Pelham, New York
Pelham, New York
Pelham, New York is the name of two locations in Westchester County, New York:*Pelham , New York, the Town of Pelham*Pelham Manor , New York, the Village of Pelham Manor*Pelham , New York, the Village of Pelham...
on September 13, 2011.