News

IABF Celebrates Italian Heritage at Yankee Stadium

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

Awards Gala IABF Joe Castiglione Media MLB

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

IABF International Baseball Italian American Heritage Scholarships Softball

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

Baseball IABF Italian American Italian American Heritage MLB MLB Draft Player News Professional Baseball

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.

IABF Makes Global Impact with Italian Baseball Development Programs, Returns from Transformational Trip to Castiglione della Pescaia and Parma

Castiglione della Pescaia Chris R. Vaccaro Clinics Grosetto IABF International Baseball Italia Italian Baseball Italy Marco Mazzieiri parma Team Italy Youth Baseball

PARMA, ITALY— A contingent of leaders from the Italian American Baseball Foundation traveled to Italy for several youth baseball clinics and transformational meetings, further extending the organization’s impact, growth, and potential abroad. As a board trustee of IABF, I chronicled the journey with video and images on social media.

IABF Sponsors U15 Baseball Exhibition Between U.S., Italian and Czech Players

Cultural Exchange IABF International Baseball World Baseball Classic Youth Baseball

IABF sponsored a baseball exhibition tournament in Grosseto, Italy, for U15 players from the Francisco Cervelli Academy Team, the Peninsula Mets, and the Czech National Team. The event reflected cooperation between coaches Marco Mazzeri and Doug Williams and honored their shared mentor, Lambert Ford.

Spencer Jones of the New York Yankees will be Honored with 2024 IABF Future Star Award

Awards Featured Future Star Award Gala IABF IABF Future Star New York Yankees Player News Spencer Jones Yankees

Spencer Jones 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 Yankees prospect, who played in the MLB Futures Game, was informed by IABF President Joe Quagliano and Vice President Carmine Gangone.

IABF Sponsors Dom Scala Baseball Camp

Clinics Coaching IABF Italian American Heritage Youth Baseball

How lucky are these kids?! A huge thank you to IABF Advisory Board member Dom Scala for hosting another incredible week of the Scala Baseball Camp, sponsored by the IABF. Thanks to Mike Pagliarulo, an IABF Advisory Board member, for working the camp!

IABF NEWS