By: Chris Vaccaro, Italian American Baseball Foundation
There was a proud group of first generation American ballplayers that carried the pride and heritage of their Italian roots with them to the big leagues.
Players like Frank Crosetti, Tony Lazzeri and Joe DiMaggio — among many others — never forgot where their families came from.
They brought nothing but their blue collar work ethic, distinguishable confidence and character and heart — the defining traits of so many of our ancestors.
A century later the Italian American Baseball Foundation exists to honor our heritage and build a path for the future so we never forget where we came from and progress to even greater heights, bridging a gap between Italy and America and raising interest and passion for this great game.
Learn more about the IABF, here: https://iabf.foundation/
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.
Make a Pledge and join Italian Sons and Daughters of America today.
