Of the eight Cosa Nostra bosses and Families listed below, who, in your opinion, throughout their history was the LEAST significant among them? And by the same token, who in you view was the MOST significant? ...And why?

A) Giuseppe "Joe" Cerrito (San Jose, CA)
B) Giuseppe "Joe Z" Zammuto (Rockford, IL)
C) Francesco "Frank" Zito (Springfield, IL)
D) Giuseppe "Joe" Civello (Dallas, TX)
E) Simone "Sam the Plumber" DeCavalcante (Elizabeth, NJ)
F) Vincenzo "Black Jim" Colletti (Pueblo, CO)
G) Anthony "Tony G" Giordano (St. Louis, MO)
H) Frank "Frankie Bal" Balistrieri (Milwaukee, WI)

Strongest from this group? Has to be DeCavalcante or Frankie Bal. I'd lean towards Sam Decavalcante.

Weakest: I'd go with Vincenzo Colletti.

I think those are respectable choices, and I can understand why you'd pick them.

Probably Springfield/Zito as the least notable family, just because of how small the group appears to have been - even Dallas had more identified members and was probably also more active throughout their existence.

Would say the DeCavalcantes as the opposite, though Riggi might have been a more notable/significant leader.

So you feel that the Zito crew from Springfield was the weakest, and the DeCavalcantes from NJ were at the opposite end of the spectrum (meaning the strongest?)

If so, I can see your viewpoint there as well.

IMO, these 8 are definitely not clear cut choices. Thats what makes it interesting. In many cases, a valid argument could be made either way for nearly all of them.

I'd say Sam the plumber had the bigger impact. He managed to build a Family despite the competition from the 5 families and Philly.

Plus DeCavalcante ran things his own way while Franck Balistrieri had the support of Chicago and was sometimes a Glorified capo for them.

I have to say NYMafia, as someone whose originally from that area, I've noticed over the years you've taken an interest in Frank Zito. Cool to me, as I've only heard people that are around my dads age and from that area ever mention him. Salud.

Yes, you happen to be correct, BigTuna93. Good observation. As you know, over the years I've researched all the families. Yet, for a variety of reasons, the Frank Zito Family has become one of my favorites.

My dad, and more specifically my Grandpa had quite a few direct dealings with he and his brother.

So you come from that area? As I researched it, I found Springfield to be an interesting city, with a rich history, especially back in the era when the Zito crew was thriving.

One of my favorites Zito members to research and read about was "capo di decina" Vito Impastato. He was no joke.

His brother Antonio (Tony) Zito, although low-keyed, was another guy I found interesting.

Springfield has a ton of history, as its also Abraham Lincolnn's boyhood home. Over the last 20 years, its become kind of run down, and most of the action in that area of the state has moved to Champaign-Urbana, where the University of Illinois is located. Springfield definitely had a good hay day. But yes I am originally from that area, but spent most of my adult life in Chicago. Around Covid we re-located to South Florida. But anyway, my family has been in the construction business for a long time, and I know my grandfather had quite a few dealings with them.

I understand, and I think I did read that somewhere. That the city had gone into decay. In that regard, Springfield is not unlike New York City (my hometown,) and a lot of other large metropolitan areas that went to shit. I few more that come to mind are Utica, NY; Rochester, NY; Newark, NJ; Chicago, IL, etc., etc., etc.....right on down the line. Its a crying shame!

Very interesting stuff Big Tuna! Thank you for sharing.

Strongest to weakest -

Balistrieri
DeCalvalcante
Civello
Zito
Zammuto
Cerrito
Giordano
Colletti

Full disclosure, coupe of the guys I know little about so they have to be towards the bottom of my list.

Frankie Bal and Sam the Plumber had national reach and power, they were as important as many of the well known bosses. Civello is not far behind.
Zito and Zammuto had the Outfit nearby to give them credibility, support, and State political connections.

In my opinion

Good lineup. And with few exceptions, I think we largely agree.