About Fats Dantonio
Lived 1918 – 1993 (aged 74). Fats Dantonio was an American baseball player.
John James "Fats" Dantonio (December 31, 1918 – May 28, 1993) was an American Major League Baseball catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1944 and 1945. "Fats" was tall and weighed only 165 pounds.
Dantonio is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World War II. He made his major league debut on September 18, 1944, in a road game against the Boston Braves at Braves Field.
He played in just 3 games in '44, then batted .250 in 47 games the next season. His career totals for 50 games include a .244 batting average (33-for-135), 12 runs batted in, 12 runs scored, a .301 on-base percentage, and a .304 slugging percentage. As a receiver he was well below average, making 14 errors in 182 total chances for a low fielding percentage of .923.
Dantonio died in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana, at the age of 74.
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Important facts
People in Fats Dantonio's life
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Fats Dantonio?
American baseball player (1918-1993)
When was Fats Dantonio born?
Fats Dantonio was born on 31 December 1918 in New Orleans.
When did Fats Dantonio die?
Fats Dantonio died on 28 May 1993 in New Orleans.
What was Fats Dantonio's occupation?
Fats Dantonio was a baseball player.
What nationality was Fats Dantonio?
Fats Dantonio was American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Fats Dantonio. https://biography.guide/fats-dantonio/
MLA: "Fats Dantonio." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/fats-dantonio/.
Chicago: "Fats Dantonio." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/fats-dantonio/.
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