On June 4, 1987, in honor of Fathers Day, the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., honored the Acerra family of Long Branch. The Acerras fielded a semi-pro baseball team consisting of 12 brothers, coached by their father, Louis “Pop” Acerra Sr. The Acerras played from 1938-52, barnstorming throughout the East Coast, and won 70% of their games. The brothers on the team ranged in age from 16 to 41. Two were offered professional contracts, but turned these down because they did not wish to leave their mother or break up the family team. Six served in World War II, and all made it back safely. Louis Acerra and his wife, Elizabeth, had 17 children in all. We at Monmouth Timeline feel as though this really ought to be a Mothers Day tribute.
Sources:
National Baseball Hall of Fame. (June 4, 1997). Press release: HALL OF FAME TO HONOR ALL-BROTHERS BASEBALL TEAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND.
Featured image: Altered photograph of Acerra Brothers, with handwritten first names marked on each person. Consistent with Fair Use Doctrine.
Original photo credit: Story of Acerra Brothers Baseball Team to be Told on Brandt’s Radio Program. Asbury Park Press, Asbury Park, N.J., April 6, 1947, Page 10. Available: https://www.newspapers.com/image/143901498/?terms=acerra%20brothers%20baseball&match=1
Altered photo credit: This Picture Book Life. Available: https://thispicturebooklife.com/two-baseball-picture-books/photo-of-acerra-brothers-baseball-team-about-1950-new-jersey/
The Acerra brothers are so cool😎
Freddie was my uncle, married to my mother’s sister. As a young boy in the late 40’s and early 50’s I fondly remember him coming to my grandmother’s house on Sundays in his Acerra baseball uniform after a game. He always had time to play ball with us kids after Sunday lunch. I also fondly remember spagetti dinners at Mama Acerra’s house which were always attended by lots of family. I only wish that more of those fantastic family values were shared by the familys of today.
Thanks for sharing your memories!
Such great memories thanks for sharing! My class and I just read a story about the Acerra family called Brothers at Bat from the HMH Into Reading curriculum for 3rd grade here in NYC. Such a lovely story of family and family values.
Hi, I’m the daughter of the brother who lost his eye! He’s name was Alfred, not Albert. It would be great if that could be corrected.
Thanks, Maria Acerra Hopkins.
Hi, thanks for reaching out, I’m sorry, but I cannot see where we have mentioned Albert or Alfred anywhere in our story. We are always ready to fix any error immediately, if you can show me where this error is on the site I’ll fix it but I can’t find this mistake you’re referring to. – John
Us Acerra folks are pretty awesome!
Hi! My name is Marina Tornabene and I teach 3rd Grade in Paterson, New Jersey. My class and I just read Brothers at Bat from our HMH Into Reading Curriculum. We loved learning about the Acerra family, their family values and of course their love of BASEBALL! My kids were amazed at how big the Acerra family is / was and we really enjoyed finding videos on YouTube of the Acerras in action! It was even more fun to read the comments above from real life Acerra family members! Amazing! God Bless the Acerra Family! Love, 3WP!
We just read Brothers at Bat in HMH Into Reading as well! It was great to see the real-life photograph of the Acerra Brothers!! Thank you so much for sharing, and for the family reaching out as well!