Sfninerfan

OHHH YEEEAHHH!!! ARE YOU READY FOR ME?? I’m the FIRST major league professional sports franchise on the WEST COAST BABY! I was born in 1946 and was granted a National League franchise in 1950. I got my name from the GoldMiners of San Francisco in 1849. I’m known as the "SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS!!!!" THE ONE & ONLY football team ever affiliated with San Francisco, YOU KNOW! Fifty-two years ago, I was just a dream of Anthony J. (Tony) Morabito, a University of Santa Clara alumnus – my Father and First Owner. Tony talked to Bill Leiser, sports editor for the SF Chronicle. Leiser got Tony in touch with Arch Ward, sports editor of the Chicago Tribune. Ward was the genius behind the All- American Conference. He hooked me up!! Tony partnered w/Allen E. Sorrell, E.J. Turre, and his younger brother, Victor. Then, I WAS MADE! Tony got his dream of a franchise for San Francisco – ME! For the inaugural year, I was fortunate to sign players well known to the Bay Area Fans like Frankie Albert and Norm Standlee from Stanford; Alyn Beals, Eddie Forrest, Ken Casanega and Visco Grgich from Santa Clara. I even got talents from the 4th Air Force team like Jimmy Strzykalski and Joe Vetrano. Lawrence T. (Buck) Shaw was my First Head Coach. In the four years of the AAC, I finished second to the talent-packed Cleveland Browns. In 1950, my fans celebrated my entry to the NFL, but it was rough during the first year. I won only three games against nine defeats. Y.A. Tittle quarterbacked with Frankie Albert. I got back in 1951 and missed tying for the Western Conference title by only a half-game. Close, but NOT enough! That was the beginning of my participation in every NFL race except in 1955-56-58. My success had a tragic turn on October 27, 1957 when Tony Morabito died of a heart attack while watching me play the Chicago Bears at Kezar Stadium. Tony was living on "borrowed time" since 1952 when he suffered a coronary occlusion. Doctors tried to get him out of football. But he wasn’t having it and refused to retire. I wasn’t just his hobby. I was his life's blood!!! No other team ever gave their owner a better tribute than I DID. When I was losing, 17-7 then I heard of Tony's death. I KICKED ASS! I ended up winning 21-17 turning away Chicago touchdown offensive in the fourth period. It was all for Tony! After he died, his widow Josephine and brother Victor Morabito took over me. My other owners included Albert J. Ruffo, Dr. William E. O'Grady, Franklin Mieuli, Lawrence Purcell, James Ginella, Louis Spadia and Frankie Albert. Through the years, Bay Area football fans have been thrilled by my legendary stars’ performances like the "Million Dollar Backfield" of Y.A. Tittle, Joe Perry, John Henry Johnson and Hugh McElhenny in the 1950s; the quarterbacking wizardry of John Brodie in the '60s; and the rugged defensive play of Jimmy Johnson in the '70s. In 1971, I moved from Kezar Stadium to Candlestick Park. THE STICK! The stadium was named in 1970 by a fans referring to the stadium location, Candlestick Point. My first regular season at the stick took place on October 10, 1971 vs. the Los Angeles Rams. The stick has natural grass and seats 70,207. The late '70s led a new era for me, when I was adopted by Ohio businessman Eddie DeBartolo Jr. and got a new head coach from Stanford, Bill Walsh. My new owner and coach were the chiefs in what would become professional sport's winningest franchise over the next 15 years. That’s ME – THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS!!! When DeBartolo got me in 1977, I upgraded my organization's front office administration and on-field talent. His vision was to create a winning franchise that operated with class and dignity. As my Chief Executive Officer till my acquisition in 1997, Edward J. DeBartolo, Jr. role was to provide emotional and financial support for my players and coaches. Under his leadership I earned the moniker "TEAM OF THE 80S" after claiming FOUR Super Bowl titles during that decade. I extended my dominance into the 90s, becoming the ONLY NFL TEAM to produce 10-or-more wins for 16 consecutive seasons (1983-98). Since 1981, I won 13 Division Titles, FIVE Conference Championships, and FIVE Super Bowl Championships (the first franchise in NFL history to win five), claiming the World Title in 1981 (Super Bowl XVI), '84 (Super Bowl XIX), '88 (Super Bowl XXIII), '89 (Super Bowl XXIV) and '94 (Super Bowl XXIX). DAMN RIGHT!!! I posted at least 10 wins seventeen times in each of the last 20 seasons. I opened my sixth decade in the NFL under new leadership from Edward DeBartolo, Jr. to his sister Denise DeBartolo York in May 23, 2000. DeBartolo, Jr. ended his tenure after guiding me to five Super Bowl Championships and 16 postseason appearances. I entered 2002 with hopes of advancing past the first round of the NFC playoffs. My team finished the season with 10 wins and advanced to the NFC Divisional Playoff with the second largest playoff comeback in NFL history with a 5-1 Division record. I won my first division title since 1997 with head coach Steve Mariucci who was released from the final year of his contract on January 15, 2003. I conducted a nation- wide search for Mariucci’s successor and hired Dennis Erickson. Erickson was introduced as my14th head coach in team history on February 12, 2003.