Longtime college baseball coach Dom Scala will be recognized with the 2021 IABF Achievement Award at a ceremony in December.
Scala, who has been involved with baseball for over 45 years, is the former longtime head coach of Adelphi University baseball on Long Island where he was 432-331-5 and won three conference titles and three coach of the year honors. He will also be inducted to the New York Baseball Hall of Fame in November.
“I am honored and humbled to be chosen by the IABF for this prestigious award,” said Scala. “My Italian American heritage instilled important values that became the foundation of my life’s journey in the great game of baseball.”
Drafted in the sixth round by the Oakland A’s in 1976, he was acquired by the New York Yankees as the bullpen catcher from 1978-1981, and promoted to bullpen coach from 1981-1986. During his nine-year stint with the Yankees, he was a member of the 1978 World Championship and the 1981 American League Championship teams and worked with legendary coaches Yogi Berra, Billy Martin, Gene Michael, Jeff Torborg and the late Dick Howser. From 1987-1990, he became the Advance Major League Scout and Special Assignment Scout of the Pittsburgh Pirates under Jim Leyland.
“Dom Scala has impacted thousands of baseball players across the tri-state over many decades,” said Joe Quagliano, President/Founder of IABF. “He is connected to the pro game, the college game and was also a successful high school coach on Long Island. At every level he has succeeded. We look forward to celebrating his career in December.”
Scala joins Orioles star Trey Mancini, this year’s IABF Tommy Lasorda Award recipient, Nationals President/ GM Mike Rizzo, our IABF Executive of the Year and Tom Verducci, the longtime Sports Illustrated writer who will receive the first IABF Media Award.
The annual IABF Awards Gala will be held in December in Brooklyn. More information about tickets, location and logistics will be available later this summer.
About IABF
Started in 2016 with our inaugural dinner honoring Hall of Famer Mike Piazza, the Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF) is a registered 501c3 charity that is committed to the future of baseball & softball for Italian & Italian – American youths on the high school, college and professional levels. While we move forward, we remember those who paved the way and brought us recognition and respect. Names like Dimaggio, Berra, Rizzuto, Righetti, and Franco still resonate today among the young students of the game. The IABF is adamant about adding new names to the list of Italian – American Baseball greats!
Our focus on developing young talent both in the US and Italy is top priority. Each year we sponsor several showcases and clinics that are conducted by former MLB players and top college coaches. We invite professional scouts and college recruiters to attend and evaluate the talent. We are working closely with several colleges and are deeply committed to helping those who qualify academically achieve a college education through baseball & Softball.
The IABF provides citizenship documentation assistance for Americans to play on the Italian Olympic and WBC Baseball teams.
The IABF donates equipment to individuals, teams, and leagues that qualify. Helping families by giving their children the opportunity to have the proper equipment is as important to us as if it was our own children.
