Who was more powerful and successful as a Mafia boss?...and why?

A) Giovanni "John Scalish" Scalici (Cleveland, OH)

B) Sebastiano "John" La Rocca (Pittsburgh, PA)

I'm sure you know that my choice would be John LaRocca. All in all, lived a good life.
Well respected, and made bushels full of cash. However he did some time for assault.
By and large, kept Pittsburgh away from a costly war with Cleveland.

Lol. How did I know that FOH?

IMO, they both did very well. But if memory serves me correctly, didn't Scalish die on the operating table from complications during surgery? He was a relatively young man. Where as La Rocca survived much longer. So for that alone, I think you gotta give it to La Rocca.

Yeah, I know. That was a lay-up :-)

I hear ya. But I also gotta tell ya that you and I are in the minority on this one.

Our ButtonGuys poll has already logged 678 votes, and the count is 59% to 41% in Scalish's favor. Lol

I don't know what they're basing their decisions on, but Scalish is leading....at least for now.

Goes to show there are more Cleveland guys than the few of us Pittsburgh guys left ;-)

Maybe some of the more intelligent guys on here
Like FoH, Spadine etc can frame this better than me.
Comparing Scalish to LaRocca is like comparing
Patrick Mahomes to Jalen Hurts.

But I'm a Cleveland guy but I think LaRocca was better
By a very small margin
John Scalish IMO used his position as a mafia boss
To benefit his immediate family ,not so much the Cleveland Outfit.
John LaRocca made sure after he passed away, the Pittsburgh
Family was able to prosper under Michael Genovese.
He left the Pittsburgh in good hands

Scalish if he had the Cleveland Outfits best interests at heart
Would have made Angelo Lonardo acting boss in Janurary of 1976
Reduced the role of Maishe Rockman or put him on the shelf.

I'm convinced if Scalish would have survived his fragile heart surgery
He would retired at some point from day to day decision making
I think he turns the reigns over to Big Ange to be the man.

But John LaRocca had a better plan set up for when he died.
Scalish's problem was he put too much trust in Rockman
And not enough in Lonardo
LaRocca like Scalish shunned publicity and stayed in shadows
Both bosses allowed their captains and so forth to eat well
And make tons of $$$$$.

Thanx for the compliment and you can add Lou Para and Millsprgh to your list of knowledgeable Pittsburgh guys.
It's no secret that I knew Michael and he was certainly a sharp guy that maybe should have made more members.

I always thought it fascinating in the fact how the
Cleveland and Pittsburgh families were reluctant to add
To their ranks even after they opened the books
Yet other Midwest Families like Chicago and Detroit
Had no issues adding made guys.

Licavoli didn't really add new blood until
1976 and that was because Nardi and Greene
Got the jump on them. Even then the guys they made
Weren't exactly young and full of spirit. They were old timers
Who were more gamblers than gangsters.

By and large, John had a very loyal and honest crew. Made tons of cash, mostly casinos and sports.
No drugs until Michael. Then as the mills closed so did the typical mob's type of income had to be, thus Chuckie Porter.

Other than " greed" why did Michael Genovese actually give the green light
For the Pittsburgh Family to start getting involved
In the drug rackets? He seemed like a very old school
Traditional mafioso.
As far as Cleveland goes, I think Licavoli said ok regarding
Drugs cause I think the Vegas Skim was getting
Less and less. And new avenues for income was needed.
For whatever reason the Cleveland unlike the 5 Families
Never really put their arms around the construction rackets
In NE Ohio or the trash hauling for that matter

"Greed" may be some what harsh in describing why Michael deviated from John's Old School philosophy: "No Drugs", but true.

As a footnote as to why Michael didn't bring in new blood I know in Zebo's case, he didn't want to be made.He felt that being made put a target on his back.
Although he had to be made when Michael sent him to Youngstown to keep an eye on Lenny after Ernie got wacked. Michael wanted no adverse publicity.