Awards

Riccardo Fraccari Named 2024 IABF Ambassador Award Honoree

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

Awards Dom Balsamo Gala IABF Media MLB

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dave Righetti Named 2024 IABF Achievement Award Honoree

Awards Dave Righetti Gala IABF New York Yankees Player News Righetti

Yankees legend Dave Righetti will receive the 2024 Italian American Baseball Foundation Achievement Award at the IABF Gala on December 5 in the Bronx. A former two-time All-Star and 1981 AL Rookie of the Year, he later helped the Giants win three World Series as pitching coach.

Images: 2024 IABF Cigar Dinner

Awards Cigars Community Events Fundraising Gala IABF John Franco

The IABF Cigar Dinner was described as another successful event, with thanks to everyone who contributed. The organization announced plans to reunite supporters at its Golf Outing in September and Gala in December, while offering special appreciation to John Franco for his support.

Italian American Baseball Foundation to Present Highest Honor to Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred

Awards Commissioner of Baseball Gala IABF Italian American Italian American Baseball Foundation Rob Manfred

The Italian American Baseball Foundation will honor Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred with its IABF Excellence Award at its December 5 gala in the Bronx. The award recognizes his leadership, service to baseball, and Italian heritage, including ancestry from Campobasso and Cosenza, Calabria.

Baseball Executive Larry Lucchino Dies at 78

Awards Baseball History Italian American Heritage Professional Baseball

Larry Lucchino, the Italian-American baseball executive who led the Orioles, Padres, and Red Sox, has died at 78. As Red Sox president and CEO from 2002 to 2015, he helped Boston win three World Series titles and drove the development of Camden Yards and Petco Park.

IABF NEWS