One of the best Italian American ball players of the 20th century, Rocky Colavito, left a legacy in Cleveland. He died this week at his home in Pennsylvania at the age of 91.
Rocky, an inductee in Cleveland’s Hall of Fame, was honored with a statue in the city’s Little Italy in 2021. Between 1955 and 1968, he hit 374 home runs for six teams and played in nine all-star games. He also led the American League in home runs in 1959 and RBI in 1965.
Colavito, a New York native who called Joe DiMaggio his favorite player growing up, is one of 18 players in Major League history to hit four homers in one game, which he did on June 10, 1959.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Rocky’s family, friends, and fans in Cleveland.
In a remarkably historic evening for the Italian American Baseball Foundation, our organization celebrated its ninth gala with record attendance and support.
We also honored the Commissioner of Baseball (Rob Manfred), the President of Italian Baseball/Softball (Marco Mazzieri), and the President of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (Riccardo Fraccari). No other baseball organization has brought such influential people together to celebrate the heritage and the game we love.
Congrats to all of our honorees, and thanks for making us proud:
IABF Excellence Award: Rob Manfred, Commissioner of Baseball
IABF Achievement Award: Dave Righetti, New York Yankees
IABF Media Award: Joe Castiglione, Boston Red Sox
IABF Executive Award: Dom Balsamo, MLB
IABF Collegiate Award: Paul Mainieri, University of South Carolina
IABF Future Star Award: Spencer Jones, New York Yankees
IABF Future Star Award: Samuel Aldegheri, Los Angeles Angels
IABF Ambassador Award: Riccardo Fraccari, WBSC
IABF Ambassador Award: Marco Mazzieri, Team Italy
IABF Ambassador Award: Don Landolphi, Brooklyn College
Special thanks to baseball and New York legend Joe Torre for introducing Commissioner Manfred as well.
We endlessly appreciate our board, sponsors, and attendees who helped us generate record scholarship numbers. You all inspire us to keep pushing and making an impact.
We’re excited to add longtime advisory board member, former Yankees player, and coach Dom Scala to the IABF Executive Board!
Dom, a New York State Baseball Hall of Famer and former longtime coach at Adelphi University, has been an advisor to IABF for many years. During its last executive meeting, the board voted to add Dom as a voting board member who will significantly contribute to the future and growth of IABF for years to come.
Auguri, Dom and IABF!
Auguri, Marco Mazzieri! The Italian American Baseball Foundation is beyond thrilled for Marco, who has been elected President of the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball.
As we have said for months, he was the only choice to lead the necessary transformation in Italy.
We support Marco and his vision and look forward to working with him to help grow baseball in Italy.
“Congratulations to Marco Mazzieri on a historic win!” said IABF President Joe Quagliano. “IABF is satisfied with the outcome and excited to work with Marco. We wish outgoing FIBS President Andrea Marcon well in the next chapter of his life. Thank you for the time and effort over the last eight years!”
Forza Marco! Forza Azzurri!
The Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF) is proud to announce a new sponsorship agreement with World Baseball Network, an organization dedicated to expanding global baseball coverage and fostering a deeper appreciation of the sport across cultures. This partnership aligns both organizations in their mission to promote baseball worldwide, highlight Italian American contributions to the game, and support the next generation of baseball players.
Through this collaboration, the Italian American Baseball Foundation and World Baseball Network aim to boost engagement in both the Italian American baseball community and the global baseball landscape. The sponsorship will provide vital resources that will support IABF’s ongoing initiatives, including scholarship development, youth baseball clinics, and events that celebrate the sport’s rich heritage and its Italian players and coaches.
“We are thrilled to partner with World Baseball Network to further our commitment to celebrating and preserving Italian American baseball legacy,” said IABF President and Co-Founder, Joe Quagliano. “This collaboration enhances our ability to reach more fans and athletes around the world, encouraging a deeper appreciation for baseball as an international sport and a cultural bridge.”
“This is a meaningful partnership that will allow the World Baseball Network to leverage a meaningful audience of passionate global baseball fans,” said World Baseball Network Chairman Lou Tallarini. “There is a lot of synergy already between the two organizations, and we’re looking forward to amplifying both brands through the game we love, intending to inform, educate, and entertain the fans.”
The partnership is set to feature joint media initiatives, exclusive content highlighting Italian American players, and the opportunity to showcase baseball’s cultural impact beyond national borders. By pooling resources and expertise, the IABF and World Baseball Network will collaborate to raise awareness, fund scholarships, and create new opportunities for athletes at all levels.
World Baseball Network joins a growing roster of supporters and partners dedicated to the mission of the Italian American Baseball Foundation. Together, they aim to inspire young athletes, celebrate the achievements of Italian Americans in the sport, and cultivate an enduring love for baseball among diverse audiences worldwide.
For more information, please visit IABF.Foundation and WorldBaseball.Com.
About the Italian American Baseball Foundation: The Italian American Baseball Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes youth development in baseball, celebrates Italian American contributions to the sport, and creates cultural exchange programs. IABF inspires and empowers young athletes in Italy and America through clinics, events, and partnerships.
About World Baseball Network: World Baseball Network is an organization focused on expanding baseball’s reach and fan base globally. Through comprehensive media coverage, athlete stories, and community engagement, the World Baseball Network celebrates baseball as a sport that transcends borders and brings people together.
It’s our distinct honor to have been inducted as an organization into the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame.
This honor is a testament to the work and growth of our board, which has remained laser-focused on our mission of growing baseball in Italy and honoring Italian Americans domestically.
It was a special touch to be inducted with Yogi Berra, Don Mattingly, Buck Showalter, Howard Johnson, and Jesse Barfield and surrounded by so many Italian American friends and colleagues.
Thank you to Joe Quagliano, Carmine Gangone, and Frank Catalanotto for having the vision to found the organization. Thank you to Joe DiMartino, Natalie Spedaliere, and Chris Vaccaro for their work in taking this organization to new heights.
If this induction is a nod to the cross-cultural work we’ve done so far, it also inspires us to keep going and fighting for our heritage group and the game we love. Our work has only just begun.
Congratulations to this year’s Columbus Day Tournament winners in Throgs Neck! IABF was proud to sponsor the event. The winners are wearing their official IABF tee shirts.
As we’ve said, we understand the importance of youth baseball, both domestically and in Italy. We will continue to make significant investments in youth baseball development in both countries for years to come.
The Reds hired Italian American and former IABF honoree Terry Francona as their new manager.
Francona, 65, who stepped down as Guardians manager after the 2023 season, returns to the dugout having managed three teams over a 23-year career. He has a 1,950-1,672 record with the Phillies (1997-2000), Red Sox (2004-2011) and Guardians (2013-2023). He led the Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007.
Good luck, Terry! 🇮🇹 ⚾️ 🇺🇸
To further connect to the Italian baseball landscape, the Italian American Baseball Foundation has launched a new “Italian Baseball Advisory Board” to bolster baseball development, college pipeline alignment, and scholarship potential for Italian natives.
Former Team Italy Manager Marco Mazzieri leads this advisory board, which includes other well-known veterans from Italy who have a deep love of the game and long resumes serving at the local and national levels in Italy.
IABF Italian Advisory Board
More people will be added to the board in the coming weeks and months.
The advisory board is already hard at work developing new programs and collaborative efforts to increase participation on Italian soil. IABF will soon promote these efforts more extensively.
The Italian American Baseball Foundation will double down on its efforts to give Italian players opportunities to play college baseball and softball in the United States.
IABF has established a new international strategic plan for its growing college pipeline for the 2024-2025 school year and beyond.
The process involves bolstering international leadership and partnerships, fostering communication and external relations efforts, further investing in the IABF Scholarship program, and building a revitalized college pipeline with mobility for Italians to play in all regions of the United States.
IABF will distribute more information about the strategic plan in the coming weeks. The primary goal is to provide educational opportunities and resources for Italians interested in playing in the United States while building a pipeline of talented players who will one day sign professional contracts.