Born: 1908
Died: 1973

Sam “Teets” Battaglia rose from street crime to the top ranks of a criminal organization known as the Chicago Outfit before he received a prison sentence that ended his career. Over the course of forty years, he racked up more than two dozen arrests for assault, attempted murder, burglary, larceny, robbery, and extortion.

A street thug on the rise

Raised in Chicago, Illinois, Battaglia received very little education. He began a criminal record in 1924, at the age of sixteen, when he was arrested for burglary. During the late 1920s he joined the notorious 42 Gang, a loosely organized group of poor young street thugs. Among the 42 Gang’s other members was Sam Giancana (see entry), who eventually rose to the top of the Mafia’s Chicago Outfit.

Known as a crook with more brawn (muscle) than brains, Battaglia captured the attention...