Joe Savoldi
Joe Savoldi (left), using his trademark "dropkick", against an opponent
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| Birth name | Joseph Anthony Savoldi Jr. |
|---|---|
| Born |
March 5, 1908 Castano Primo, Italy |
| Died | January 25, 1974 (aged 65) Henderson, Kentucky, US |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Jumping Joe Savoldi |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Billed weight | 255 lb (116 kg) |
| Debut | 1931 |
| Retired | 1950 |
Joseph Anthony "Joe" Savoldi Jr., more commonly known by his nickname- "Jumping Joe" Savoldi (March 5, 1908 – January 25, 1974) was an Italian-born American football player, professional wrestler, and Special Ops / Spy for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII.
Savoldi was born two months premature in Castano Primo (Italy). He spent his childhood in Castano Primo and Bergamo (Milan, Italy), being raised by his grandmother and an aunt before finally joining his family in Three Oaks, Michigan at age twelve. Giuseppe Savoldi anglicized his first name to "Joe" and became a star athlete in high school, excelling in football, basketball, baseball, and track. After graduation from Three Oaks High, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame, where, beginning in 1928, he would play football for the Fighting Irish teams coached by Knute Rockne. His first start for Notre Dame came during his sophomore year against would-be national champion, Georgia Tech, after Rockne's first, second, and third string fullbacks all fell to injuries. During that appearance, Savoldi fumbled a kickoff and played a terrible game before being sent to the showers. The following week, coach Rockne moved Savoldi from running back to the line, and Savoldi briefly quit the squad before being moved back to the running back position. It was also during the 1928 season that Savoldi was in the locker room at Yankee Stadium to witness Knute Rockne's legendary, "Win one for the Gipper speech."
The All-American fullback was first nicknamed, "Galloping Joe," followed by "The Wandering Wop," followed by "The People's Choice," before finally earning the moniker "Jumping Joe." The nickname that finally stuck, was a result of a play he made in a 1929 game against Carnegie Tech, when he scored a touchdown by jumping (diving) up and over the goal line to win the game. Although commonplace now, diving over the line of scrimmage was extremely dangerous during a period of leather helmets and little, or no, shoulder padding. Other career highlights for Savoldi came on October 4, 1930, when he scored the first ever Notre Dame touchdown at the newly opened Notre Dame Stadium; and one week later, when he scored three touchdowns against Navy, sealing his fame as "the first hero in the lore of Notre Dame's $750,000.00 stadium." Savoldi averaged an incredible 11 yards per carry and 40 yards per kick off return, and due to his size (5'11" 218lbs) was known for his punishing style of running the ball. His career came to a sudden end on November 17, 1930 when he withdrew from school after divorce papers were filed, and news of his secret marriage was leaked to the press.
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