News

Wayne Randazzo is New Angels TV Play-By-Play Voice

Bally Sports West and the Los Angeles Angels named Wayne Randazzo the club’s new play-by-play announcer. Randazzo brings nearly 20 years of local and national broadcasting experience, including four seasons calling New York Mets games, while continuing his Friday Night Baseball role with Apple TV+.

2022 IABF Gala Speeches

Awards Gala IABF Player News

The 2022 IABF Gala honored Mike Piazza, Michael Kay, Mike Pagliarulo, Jim Small, and Vito Friscia with awards recognizing Team Italy, media, achievement, international leadership, and future potential. Frank Catalanotto, Tom Verducci, and others introduced the honorees.

Italian Americans Participate in Arizona Fall League

Italian American Heritage Player News Professional Baseball

The Arizona Fall League concluded in November after featuring several Italian American players. Participants included Jake Gozzo and Vin Timpinelli with the Glendale Desert Dogs, Blair Calvo and Mike Antico with Salt River, Bryce Teodosio with Scottsdale, and Jonah Dipoto and Alex Isola with Surprise.

IABF Featured on Yankees Magazine via YES Network

Gala IABF Italian American Heritage Media

YES Network featured the 2022 Italian American Baseball Foundation Gala on its Yankees Magazine program with Nancy Newman. The segment highlighted Michael Kay’s IABF Media Award and included family photographs showing generations of his Italian heritage through his mother’s side.

IABF Gala Featured on MLB Network

Gala IABF Media Team Italy

IABF Gala Featured on MLB Network. Thank you to @MLBNetwork, who covered the 2022 IABF Gala and reported on the impact Mike Piazza and Team Italy are having on the game. The article centers on IABF Gala Featured on MLB Network and presents the available facts and context from the original update.

Mission Classic Trip Featured on Sky Spot

IABF International Baseball Media Team Italy World Baseball Classic

The Italian American Baseball Foundation joined the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball for Mission Classic, a historic trip to Italy. The journey offered Italian National Team players and coaches a culturally significant experience before the 2023 World Baseball Classic and was featured in a four-minute Sky Sport broadcast package.

Brian Sweeney Named Pitching Coach of Kansas City Royals

Coaching Featured MLB Player News

Brian Sweeney, Italian on his mother’s side, was hired as the Kansas City Royals’ pitching coach by manager Matt Quatraro. Sweeney previously served as the Cleveland Guardians’ bullpen coach under Terry Francona and said Kansas City would combine tradition, experience and innovation.

Chris Antonetti Named MLB Executive of the Year

Awards MLB Player News Professional Baseball

Chris Antonetti was named Major League Baseball Executive of the Year at the November General Manager meetings. The Guardians president previously won the award in 2017, while Mariners president Jerry Dipoto finished third. Guardians manager Terry Francona had also been named American League Manager of the Year.

IABF Gala Hot Spot for New York Media

Community Events Gala IABF Media

The 2022 Italian American Baseball Foundation Gala attracted extensive media coverage, with SNY, YES Network, MLB Network and the World Baseball Network reporting from the Brooklyn event. CBS Radio and MLB.com also attended and promoted the organization, while IABF thanked its continuing media supporters.

Marco Landi Presented First IABF Ambassador Award

Awards Gala IABF International Baseball

Marco Landi, the Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball’s head of communications and marketing, received the inaugural Ambassador Award from the Italian American Baseball Foundation. Presented at the IABF Gala, it recognized his role in expanding the partnership and supporting baseball in Italy and the United States.