D'Acquisto was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the first round of the 1970 MLB Draft out of St. Augustine High School in San Diego, California. He made his Major League debut on September 2, 1973, against the Atlanta Braves, starting the second game of a doubleheader. D'Acquisto allowed two runs in 4.2 innings and did not get the decision.[2] He pitched a complete game victory over the San Diego Padres on September 21 for his first career win while striking out 11.[3] Overall, D'Acquisto was 1–1 with a 3.58 ERA in seven appearances (three starts) that year.
D'Acquisto was named National League (NL) Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1974 when he went 12–14 with a 3.77 ERA for the fifth-place Giants, but he missed most of the next season after elbow surgery.[4] He tied an NL record with three wild pitches in one inning on September 24, 1976.[5]
In four seasons with the Giants, D'Acquisto compiled a record of 18–27 with a 4.68 ERA in 83 appearances (64 starts).
San Diego Padres 1978 #16 John D'Acquisto alternate jersey
D'Acquisto was traded, along with Pat Scanlon, from the Cardinals to the San Diego Padres for Butch Metzger on May 17, 1977.[7] In 1978, he was switched to the bullpen (4–3, 10 saves, 2.13 ERA in 45 appearances). In 1979, D'Acquisto was put back into the rotation and had 51 appearances, with a 9–13 record with 134 innings pitched and struck out 97 batters.
In four seasons with the Padres, D'Acquisto went 16–21 with a 4.24 ERA in 152 games (26 starts).
Montreal Expos
On August 11, 1980, D'Acquisto was traded to the Montreal Expos for a player to be named later (Randy Bass). He made 11 appearances out of the bullpen with the Expos, with a 2.18 ERA.
California Angels
In 1981 D'Acquisto tested the free agent market and signed with the California Angels. D'Acquisto did not pitch much with the Angels (6 appearances) during the strike-ridden year and was subsequently sent to the minor leagues in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was brought back to the parent team in spring training and then released.
Atlanta Braves
After his release, D'Acquisto signed with the Atlanta Braves and was sent to Richmond AAA International League in 1982. He asked for, and was granted, his release on July 27, 1982.
Oakland Athletics
He signed with the Oakland Athletics under Billy Martin and pitched for Oakland for the rest of the 1982 season. D'Acquisto was part of the A's in spring training the next year also but was released on the last day of spring training.
After he retired from baseball, D'Acquisto became a registered investment advisor. In 1996, D'Acquisto was sentenced to five years and three months in prison for trying to pass off a forged $200 million certificate of deposit.[8] D'Acquisto was also indicted in 1998 on charges of defrauding investors of approximately $7 million.[9] As a result, D'Acquisto was sentenced the following year to an additional four years and seven months in prison after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering, which was served concurrently with the term handed down in 1996.[10][11]
