Profile Text
Smoltz in 2010, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: John Andrew Smoltz
Place of Birth: Warren, Michigan, U.S.
Date of Birth: May 15, 1967
Ethnicity: * father – Slovenian, German * mother – Italian
John Smoltz is an American professional baseball player. A pitcher, he played for the Atlanta Braves, as well as the Boston Red Sox and the St. Louis Cardinals, of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is nicknamed “Smoltzie” and “Marmaduke.”
He is the son of Mary and John Smoltz. He is a cousin of professional baseball player Charlie Gehringer.
John is married to Kathryn Darden. He has four children with his former wife Dyan Struble. He is a Christian.
John’s paternal grandfather was John Smoltz (the son of John Smoltz/Smolc and Mary Pahule). John’s grandfather John was born in Minnesota, and was of Slovenian descent. He worked as an usher and groundskeeper for the Detroit Tigers. John’s great-grandfather John was born in Yugoslavia, the son of John Smoltz and Cecilja Petek.
John’s paternal grandmother was Theresa M. Gehringer (the daughter of Adam John Gehringer and Rosa Fronrath). Theresa was born in Michigan. Adam was born in Michigan, the son of German parents, Sebastian Gehringer, from Baden-Württemberg, and Anna Maria Miltner.
John’s maternal grandfather was Andrew Tersigni (the son of Donato Tersigni and Loreta Marulli). John was born in Sora, Lazio, Italy.
John’s maternal grandmother was Benedetta “Bertha” D’Annunzio (the daughter of Agostino D’Annunzio and Lucia Pacitti). Benedetta was born in Villa Latina, Lazio.
Sources: http://sabr.org
Genealogy of John’s paternal grandmother, Theresa M. (Gehringer) Smoltz (focusing on her father’s side) – http://www.findagrave.com
Obituary of John’s maternal grandmother, Benedetta “Bertha” (D’Annunzio) Tersigni – http://deathnotices.michigan.com