News

IABF, SIF/OSDIA Foundation Partner on Scholarship Program

The Italian American Baseball Foundation and Sons of Italy Foundation launched a matching scholarship for student-athletes who excel in academics, baseball or softball, and Italian heritage. Francesco Bonvini, a Kingsborough Community College pitcher from Parma, Italy, became the first recipient after earning CUNY Pitcher of the Year honors.

Frank Catalanotto, Hofstra Make History

Awards Coaching College Baseball IABF

In his first season managing Hofstra, IABF Ambassador Frank Catalanotto led the Pride to its first Colonial Athletic Association baseball championship. Hofstra finished the tournament 4-0, won nine straight games and earned the conference’s automatic NCAA Division I bid.

RIP Joe Pignatano 1929-2022

Baseball History Italian American Heritage Player News Professional Baseball

The IABF announced the death of Italian American baseball player and coach Joe Pignatano at age 92. A Brooklyn native, he played for several Major League teams, won World Series titles with the Dodgers and Mets, and coached the Mets bullpen from 1968 to 1981.

IABF Meets with MLB International, Has Board Meeting at Yankee Stadium

Community Events IABF International Baseball MLB

The Italian American Baseball Foundation held meetings in New York City on May 23, including discussions with MLB International SVP Jim Small about organizational goals and objectives. Leaders later met with board members at Yankee Stadium and spoke with Trey Mancini, Aaron Boone, Ron Marinaccio and Ryan Ruocco.

Torey Luvollo Becomes Winningest Manager in Diamondbacks History

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Torey Luvollo Becomes Winningest Manager in Diamondbacks History. Congratulations to Diamondbacks manager and Italian American Torey Lovullo on reaching the most wins by any manager in franchise history. He has been the manager in Arizona since 2017. He played in the big leagues fro 1988 through 1999.

2022 IABF Bay Area College Games

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The Italian American Baseball Foundation hosted its first Bay Area Collegiate Games in April, bringing players from Italy to compete against West Coast colleges for scholarship opportunities and cultural connection. The week included games, university visits, an Oakland Athletics event and honors for players, coaches and organizers.

Larry Baldassaro Catalogs Italian American Baseball Interviews on New Website

Baseball History Italian American Heritage Media

Larry Baldassaro Catalogs Italian American Baseball Interviews on New Website. If you loved Larry Baldassaro’s book “Baseball Italian Style,” then you’ll really love his new website that catalogs interviews he did with many great Italian American ball players. Check it out and listen .

Larry Baldassaro Wins 2022 SABR Research Award for Tony Lazzeri Book

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Italian American baseball writer and researcher Larry Baldassaro won the 2022 Society of American Baseball Research Award for his book on Tony Lazzeri. A professor emeritus of Italian at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Baldassaro has chronicled Italian American baseball history for decades.

IABF Scholarship Winner Shannon Russo Shining at Raritan Valley Community College

College Baseball Player News Scholarships Softball

Shannon Russo was one of IABF’s inaugural scholarship winners in 2021. Playing softball at Raritan Valley Community College, she has six hits in eight games and is hitting .273. She also has 3 RBI and has scored 2 runs in the early part of the season. Good luck to Shannon the rest of the year!

Save the Dates: Cigars, Youth Clinic and Golf

Clinics Community Events Fundraising IABF

Save the Dates: Cigars, Youth Clinic and Golf. IABF has a big year planned … mark your calendars with out cigar social, youth clinic and golf outing! More information about registration and other events soon. The article centers on Save the Dates: Cigars, Youth Clinic and Golf and presents the available facts and context.

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