Close

Anthony Rizzo spent last year’s shutdown making good on the annual trope of getting into the best shape of his life, specifically targeting speed and explosiveness. The result was the worst season of his career by most measures, though his 1.1 fWAR extrapolated out over an average full season of plate appearances would have gotten him past 2013’s t...

400

Our story begins in that serene sanctuary where so many consequential decisions are made: The airport bar. It was September 1988, and the Pittsburgh Pirates were entering the final leg of a four-city road swing near season’s end. The Buccos were above .500 but far away from postseason contention. So this was a time for first baseman/right fielder...

294

Yogi Berra will soon be all over — your mail, that is. The New York Yankees great known for his funny malaprops will be featured on a new stamp this year, the U.S. Postal Service announced Friday, truly making him a man of letters. A 10-time World Series champion as a player and three-time AL MVP, Berra filled baseball’s record book along with “Bar...

3702

There was a proud group of first generation American ballplayers that carried the pride and heritage of their Italian roots with them to the big leagues. Players like Frank Crosetti, Tony Lazzeri and Joe DiMaggio — among many others — never forgot where their families came from. They brought nothing but their blue collar work ethic, distinguishable...

1011

Former Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck once said, “A good groundskeeper was the 10th man on the field and was worth five to seven victories a season.” George Toma is often ranked among the greatest groundskeepers of all time, creating and maintaining professional baseball, football, soccer, and Olympic playing fields all ove...

587

The Texas Rangers signed Team Italy pitcher Sam Gaviglio to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training in Surprise, Arizona on February 1, 2021. When pitchers and catchers report to camp later this month, the 30-year-old right-handed pitcher will reunite with Team Italy catcher/designated hitter Drew Butera, who recently signed a...

728

Team Italy catcher and designated hitter Drew Butera recently signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers with an invitation to Spring Training Camp in Surprise, Arizona. The 37-year-old veteran, who has caught two no-hitters and has played for five different franchises during his 11-year MLB career, will be competing for an opening day r...

856

As current president of the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, and someone who has been blessed to call Tommy Lasorda a close friend for more than 30 years because of it, I was deeply saddened this week as we lost another American hero. The Hall of Fame began as an Italian American Boxing Hall of Fame in 1977, founded by George Randazzo...

767

Lawrence Peter Yogi Berra was one of the most popular New York Yankees of all time. With all the discussion on who will be the Yankee catcher next season, I thought it would be appropriate to look at one of the Yankees’ most iconic catchers. Yogi was a long time catcher, coach, and manager for the Yankees. Berra was born in 1925 to immigrant parent...

892

Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon is the special guest for the ninth episode of the Italian American Baseball Foundation Spaghetti & Baseballs Facebook Livesteam on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 8:15 pm (ET). Co-hosts Chris Colabello and Natalie Spedaliere have welcomed the likes of Frank Catalanotto, Anthony Iapoce, Mike Napoli, John Franco, ...

525