Samuel Aceto was former owner of the Portland Pilots in the New England League in the late 1940's Sportsman Aceto long has backed Deering High athletics Aceto stepped into the baseball picture in 1946 to keep the portland pilots here until 1949 when local attendance wasn't matched by other New England franchises Aceto is nationally known in harness racing , He owns Oteca Stables
From Fun While it Lasted
Background
The Portland Pilots were a Class B minor league baseball team in the New England League for three summers from 1947 to 1949. The club started out as the woeful last place Portland Gulls during the first season of New England League in 1946. Gulls owner John J. Haley ran out of money to pay his players late in the 1946 season and was ordered by League President Claude Davidson to find a buyer.
The Gulls were bailed out by local contractor Sam Aceto, sign shop owner Herbert Curry and hotelier William Richard in August 1946 which allowed the team to complete the season. Prior to the 1947 season, the first full campaign under Aceto’s leadership, the team was renamed the Portland Pilots.
