Imagine a place where baseball legends have roots. That place is Malvaglio. This is not just any ordinary Italian village. Malvaglio is a place with unexpected connections to American sports history.
Malvaglio sits southeast of Robecchetto con Induno. It is a serene fraction of a larger community with a captivating history. The story of Malvaglio dates back centuries. It has evolved from a rural commune to a part of Robecchetto con Induno.
In 1540 Giovanni Angelo Della Croce owned a significant portion of land here. By 1558 local canons possessed 12% of the communal territory. The church of San Vittore of Robecchetto managed 7%. Unlike Robecchetto, religious entities had smaller properties here. Families like the Beolchi, Bossi and Visconti also held land.
Giovan Battista Lossetti’s family gained control of the feudo of Inveruno. This included Malvaglio in 1652. They maintained possession for about 40 years. Odoardo Della Croce’s family acquired the Malvaglio portion in 1695.
In 1751 Malvaglio had 223 residents. By 1771 that number grew to 423. Giuseppe Della Croce’s death in 1762 led to changes in ownership. Giovanni Francesco Cattaneo acquired the feudo.
In 1805 Malvaglio had 231 inhabitants. The Milanese church of Sant’Eustorgio’s Dominicans had local land and a house since the 16th century. Napoleon’s decree briefly annexed Induno to Malvaglio in 1809. Later, Malvaglio was suppressed and incorporated into Cuggiono in 1811.
The Austrians restored Malvaglio. But they annexed it to Induno in 1853. During the Battle of Turbigo in 1859, French and Austrian forces clashed near Malvaglio. Austrian troops retreated through Malvaglio toward Magenta. Four Tyrolean soldiers died and were buried in Malvaglio’s cemetery.
In 1861 Malvaglio had 24 inhabited houses with 66 families. By 1883, the population was 583. The 20th century saw a population of 878. Linen weaving thrived with an industry employing 248 people. An infant asylum opened in 1917 but closed in 1923 due to funding issues.
Vincenzo Ronzoni’s 1934 will provided funds to restore the infant asylum. Instead of renovating the old structure, they bought an old silk mill and transformed it into an asylum. Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster blessed it in 1938.
Malvaglio has a unique claim to fame. It is the ancestral hometown of Yogi Berra’s father. Lorenzo Pietro Berra or Yogi Berra was a baseball legend. His father Pietro Berra immigrated from Malvaglio to the United States in 1909. Yogi grew up in St Louis. He became one of baseball’s most iconic figures.
Malvaglio’s story is one of resilience and transformation. Its fields and streets have witnessed centuries of change. From feudal holdings to a connection to American baseball. Malvaglio is a unique place. It holds stories within its borders.