News

Cardinals Host Italian Heritage Night

The Italian American Baseball Foundation continued its MLB Italian Heritage Games in St. Louis, where Chris Vaccaro met Cardinals players Andre Pallante and Daniel Descalso, both Team Italy alumni. The games promote Italian culture and have helped generate college scholarships through partnerships with MLB clubs.

Italian Americans Make MLB Top 100 Prospect List

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From the MLB Draft Pipeline to the MLB Top 100 Prospect list, Italian Americans rank among the top young players in the game. MLB.com released its latest Top 100 list, including these players with Italian heritage: 13. Travis Bazzana, Cleveland (Italian Australian) 18. Jac Caglianone, Kansas City 52. Kyle Manzardo, Cleveland 75.

Riccardo Fraccari Named 2024 IABF Ambassador Award Honoree

Awards Baseball History Gala IABF International Baseball Riccardo Fraccari

One of the most transformative baseball leaders, Riccardo Fraccari, has been selected as an Italian American Baseball Foundation Ambassador Award honoree in 2024. He will be recognized at that annual IABF Gala on December 5 at Marina Del Rey in the Bronx.

MLB’s Dom Balsamo Named IABF Executive of the Year

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Dom Balsamo will receive the 2024 Italian American Baseball Foundation Executive of the Year honor at the December 5 gala in the Bronx. The MLB executive, with the league since 2001, has worked across media, events, sponsorship, public relations, and international baseball, including all five World Baseball Classics.

IABF Celebrates Italian Heritage at Yankee Stadium

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Thanks to the New York Yankees for celebrating Italian Heritage with another game focusing on our proud culture. IABF’s Joe Qualiano and Carmine Cangone were joined on the field before the game by Anthony Volpe and Sean Stellato. Volpe is a past IABF Future Star honoree. There are several more Italian heritage games this season.

Paul Mainieri Named 2024 IABF Collegiate Award Honoree

Awards Coaching College Baseball Gala IABF LSU Paul Mainieri South Carolina

College baseball coaching legend Paul Mainieri is this year’s IABF Collegiate Award honoree. With 1,500-plus wins, Mainieri is one of the winningest coaches in college baseball history. He has held head coaching positions at St. Thomas, Air Force, Notre Dame, and, most notably, LSU, where he led the Tigers to a College World Series.

Red Sox Legend Joe Castiglione Named 2024 IABF Media Award Honoree

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It has been a special year for Red Sox radio broadcaster Joe Castiglione, from the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame and now the 2024 IABF Media Award. Both are for his service to broadcasting and baseball. Castiglione has been the Red Sox’s radio voice since 1983.

IABF Scholarship Recipient Reflects on NIAF Voyage of Discovery Trip to Italy

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Izabella Cimino, a Division I softball player at Florida Atlantic University, is a past recipient of an IABF Scholarship. She was also selected to travel through the National Italian American Foundation’s “Voyage of Discovery” program in partnership with IABF . This is an essay about her experience.

Sal Frelick Named 2024 IABF Future Star Honoree

Awards Featured Gala IABF Player News Sal Frelick Team Italy

Sal Frelick is the latest Italian American Baseball Foundation Future Star honoree and will be recognized at the annual IABF Gala on December 5 at Marina Del Rey in the Bronx. The Milwaukee Brewers outfielder played for Team Italy in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and was a first-round pick in 2021 after starring at Boston College.

Italian Americans Have Historic MLB Draft Day

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At least 34 players with Italian heritage were selected in the 2024 Major League Baseball draft, including first-round picks Travis Bazzana, Chase Burns, and Jac Caglianone. At least one Italian American was chosen in every round except the ninth, and 22 of 30 MLB teams drafted at least one Italian American.

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