Awards

Mike Piazza and Lou Tallarini to Receive Joe DiMaggio Award

The Columbus Citizens Foundation and Italian American Baseball Foundation will honor Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Piazza and former CCF President Lou Tallarini with the Joe DiMaggio Award. Event proceeds will support education, scholarships, youth showcases, and international baseball and softball development programs.

Save the Date: Joe DiMaggio Awards Dinner on April 4, 2023

Awards IABF Scholarships Youth Baseball

The Italian American Baseball Foundation and Columbus Citizens Foundation will present the Joe DiMaggio Award to Baseball Hall of Famer and Team Italy Manager Mike Piazza and business leader Lou Tallarini. Proceeds from the April 4 event will support scholarships and youth development.

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.

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.

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.

Relive the 2022 IABF Gala

Awards Featured Gala IABF Media

The Italian American Baseball Foundation held its seventh annual gala at Giando on the Water in Brooklyn on December 1, 2022. Honorees included Mike Piazza, Michael Kay, Jim Small, Mike Pagliarulo and Vito Friscia, while Marco Landi received the new IABF Ambassador Award for supporting the foundation and baseball in Italy.

Blake Butera Named Carolina League Manger of the Year

Awards Coaching Professional Baseball Team Italy World Baseball Classic

Blake Butera was named Carolina League Manager of the Year for guiding the Charleston RiverDogs to a franchise-record 88 wins and their second consecutive title. It was his second time receiving the honor. Butera, also a Team Italy assistant, has a 170-82 record in two seasons managing the RiverDogs.

Terry Francona Named American League Manager of the Year

American League Awards Italian American Heritage MLB Professional Baseball Terry Francona

Terry Francona, manager of the Cleveland Guardians, led baseball’s youngest team to a division title and was named American League Manager of the Year for the third time. Francona called the recognition a huge honor, and the achievement was celebrated as a distinction shared by Italian American managers and coaches.

Joe Castiglione Finalist for Frick Award

Awards Italian American Heritage Media Professional Baseball

Italian American broadcaster Joe Castiglione was named a finalist for the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford Frick Award. Castiglione has called Boston Red Sox games since 1983, and the award recognizes broadcasting excellence, game reverence, fan popularity, and peer respect.

Vito Friscia Named IABF Future Star Award Honoree

Awards Gala IABF Professional Baseball Team Italy

Phillies prospect and Team Italia player Vito Friscia was named the 2022 Italian American Baseball Foundation Future Star honoree. The Long Island native and Hofstra product is a Triple-A catcher who played for Italy at the 2021 European Championship, hitting three home runs.

IABF NEWS