Art Lettieri

Artilio John Lettieri

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 187 lb.

• Born 1935

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Art Lettieri was a minor league baseball player for four seasons in the 1950s. He debuted with the 1953 Oshkosh Giants and hit .303/~.437/.570 with 23 HR and 100 RBI, finishing third in the Wisconsin State League in home runs behind Joe Tuminelli and Ben Mateosky and second in slugging behind Tuminelli. Lettieri was used primarily as an outfielder but also played at least 10 games at both second base and third base. In 1954, Art batted .266 with 14 HR and 80 RBI for the St. Cloud Rox. Moving on to the 1955 El Dorado Lions, Lettieri had similar Triple Crown stats - .286/14/82. He finished his career with three stops in 1956, playing for the Danville Leafs (.261), Lake Charles Giants (.237, 2 HR) and St. Cloud (.231, 8 HR).

Personal Remembrance

Art Lettieri was my teammate on the 1953 Class D Oshkosh Giants of the Wisconsin State League. He played outfield, but also filled in at infield positions on occasion. He was a good hitter that year and I believe hit at least 20 home runs, perhaps a few more.

He was 18 years old and came from Brooklyn, NY. This was his rookie year in pro baseball. Our manager was Dave Garcia, who later managed the California Angels and Cleveland Indians in the major leagues. The next season, 1954, Letierri moved up to Class C with the St. Cloud Rox of the Northern League (Minnesota). I also was on that team. Our manager was Charlie Fox, who later managed the San Francisco Giants in the major leagues. I believe Lettieri continued his baseball career after St. Cloud, but I am uncertain where he played. Art was a good ballplayer, and his personal style as a teammate was sort of like the "Brooklyn" guy clowning around and being somewhat the prankster.

--Submitted by Bill O'Donnell