Awards

Mike Bianco Leads Ole Miss to College World Series, National Championship

Mike Bianco won his first national championship in 2022, leading Ole Miss to a College World Series victory over Oklahoma. The Division I coach, nearing 1,000 career wins, previously took the Rebels to the 2014 College World Series. Italian American pitcher Dylan DeLucia helped secure the finals berth.

IA Heritage Club of Hunterdon County to Honor Joe Quagliano and Carmine Gangone

Awards Community Events IABF Italian American Heritage

The Italian American Heritage Club of Hunterdon County will honor IABF’s Joe Quagliano and Carmine Gangone in October for their contributions to Italian American culture. The celebration recognizes their involvement in preserving and promoting the community’s heritage.

IABF Board Receives Honor Club NFT from Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball

Awards Fundraising International Baseball Italian American Heritage Team Italy

The Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball launched its Honor Club, presenting inaugural authenticated NFTs to Italian American Baseball Foundation board members and honoring Umberto Mucci and Team Italy manager Mike Piazza. Membership tokens support FIBS activities, including youth development and baseball and softball promotion.

Frank Catalanotto, Hofstra Make History

Awards Coaching College Baseball IABF

In his first season managing Hofstra, IABF Ambassador Frank Catalanotto led the Pride to its first Colonial Athletic Association baseball championship. Hofstra finished the tournament 4-0, won nine straight games and earned the conference’s automatic NCAA Division I bid.

Torey Luvollo Becomes Winningest Manager in Diamondbacks History

Awards Italian American Heritage MLB Player News Professional Baseball

Torey Luvollo Becomes Winningest Manager in Diamondbacks History. Congratulations to Diamondbacks manager and Italian American Torey Lovullo on reaching the most wins by any manager in franchise history. He has been the manager in Arizona since 2017. He played in the big leagues fro 1988 through 1999.

Larry Baldassaro Wins 2022 SABR Research Award for Tony Lazzeri Book

Awards Baseball History Italian American Heritage Professional Baseball

Italian American baseball writer and researcher Larry Baldassaro won the 2022 Society of American Baseball Research Award for his book on Tony Lazzeri. A professor emeritus of Italian at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Baldassaro has chronicled Italian American baseball history for decades.

New Haven Coach Chris Celano Reaches 400 Career Wins

Awards Coaching College Baseball International Baseball

New Haven Coach Chris Celano Reaches 400 Career Wins. Congratulations to University of New Haven coach and Italian American Chris Celano on reaching 400 career wins. The Long Island native played professionally in Italy where he was a member of the 1999 Italian League Champion Rimini Pirates.

DiMaggio, Berra, Campanella, Piazza Make ESPN Top 100

Awards Baseball History Italian American Heritage Media MLB

ESPN released its list of the Top 100 MLB Players of All-Time last week. Four Italian-Americans made the cut. Rightfully so, Joe DiMaggio (16), Yogi Berra (39), Mike Piazza (81) and Roy Campanella (83) are listed. All four legends are inductees of the Baseball Hall of Fame, of course.

Tom Verducci Inducted to NSMA Hall of Fame

Awards IABF Media Professional Baseball

Tom Verducci received another major honor after the IABF Media Award: induction into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame. The achievement was celebrated with congratulations and appreciation for his work, which was described as a source of pride.

Relive 2021 IABF Gala

Awards Gala IABF Italian American Heritage Player News

The 2021 IABF Gala honored Italian American heritage and the game of baseball. The Italian American Baseball Foundation thanked its executive board and congratulated Trey Mancini, Mike Rizzo, Tom Verducci, Anthony Volpe, and Dom Scala on their honors.

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