Outgoing Team Italy manager, players and supporters reflect on unparalleled 2017 WBC experience

Team Italy manager Marco Mazzieri held his head high with pride following the conclusion of the incredible Azzurri performance against Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela in the 2017 World Baseball Classic Pool D action at Estadio de Beisbol Charros de Jalisco. Mazzieri said, “I'm proud of each one of those guys out there, the coaching staff, my players. I think we gave all out, and I hope that people watching from the stands appreciated that because these guys, they've been all out. They played with their heart, and not only with their heart, their souls and everything. We are pleased with our performances. We went out there with a great attitude, great effort, passion, determination, courage and resiliency. It's hard to ask for more. We came out ready. We came out prepared, and we came out with a purpose. I think we should be proud of what we showed on the field.”

Italy fell short of advancing to the second round of 2017 WBC play after the 4-3 tiebreaker loss to Venezuela, and the final game represented Mazzieri’s last opportunity to serve as the skipper of the Italian national team. Leading Team Italy to two European championship titles and to the second round of the 2013 WBC, Mazzieri has been synonymous with Italian baseball for the past decade. “It's not about my career. It's about all the players that played for me because wins and losses are in the books, but the emotions and the feelings, it doesn't matter 20 years from now, it will be there forever. It's about them, it's not about me. I want to thank all of them through these 10 years that we had in different events and competitions because they made it special,” said Mazzieri.

Team Italy players echoed the sentiment on social media. Azzurri shortstop Gavin Cecchini (NY Mets) tweeted: “What an unbelievable experience! I wouldn’t trade anything to be out there fighting with my boys until the last out! Thanks to all my coaches, teammates, and personnel that made this time I will never forget! #Italia #WBC.” 2017 Team Italy DH Drew Butera (Kansas City Royals) tweeted: “I’ve never been more proud to play with a group of guys in my life. We left it all out on the field and had a blast doing it.” Team Italy outfielder Rob Segedin (LA Dodgers) tweeted: “It’s an honor to represent my Italian heritage in the #WBC and compete against the best in the world. #Italia.” Former MLB/Azzurri player and current Team Italy coach Nick Punto tweeted: “Honored to be a part of this great coaching staff. #ForzaItalia.” Team Italy pitcher Jordan Romano (Toronto Blue Jays) tweeted: “Not the result that we wanted but it was the most fun I have ever had on a baseball field. We battled hard every pitch.” Azzurri utility player Nick Morreale (San Marino-IBL) posted on his facebook page: “Hands down the most fun I have ever had in my life!!!”

Other Team Italy players expressed their unique 2017 WBC experiences during interviews conducted upon returning to MLB Spring Training camp. Azzurri outfielder John Andreoli (Chicago Cubs), who had the walk-off hit to propel Team Italy to a 10-9 win over Mexico and blasted three homers in four games, credits his WBC journey for forwarding his career and leading to lifelong friendships. “It was definitely something where I felt I grew as a player just playing through that. We had a couple guys who played in the playoffs. Daniel Descalso and Drew Butera have won World Series Championships. They talked about that experience and how the WBC is almost as intense, if not more, because you are not playing a series. If you lose one game, you could be in trouble. So every pitch meant everything, every out was huge. It was a great opportunity and great experience, which helped me go forward in my career,” said Andreoli. “I would have liked to win a couple of those close games,” he added, “but regardless, I really enjoyed the experience. It was definitely worth the trip and an experience I’ll hold onto forever. I had so much fun. Those are guys that I will definitely be in contact with for the rest of my life. We actually talked about maybe making a trip to Italy, which would be a lot of fun too.”

The strongest advocate for an offseason team reunion in Italy is Azzurri first baseman Chris Colabello (Cleveland Indians), who was born in Massachusetts in 1983 but grew up in Rimini under the watchful eye of Italian mother Silvana while his father Lou pitched for the Italian national team. In honor of his father who wore number 12 when he took the mound at Dodger Stadium when he represented Team Italy in the 1984 Olympics, Colabello played with the same name and number on his Azzurri jersey in the 2017 WBC. Just as the international tourney served as a catalyst in possibly landing a Chicago Cubs Opening Day roster spot for Andreoli, Colabello experienced a similar phenomenon when raking in the 2013 WBC, then making his MLB debut for the Minnesota Twins just over two months later. The Team Italy clean-up hitter lived up to his title by finishing the 2013 WBC with a .333 batting average, seven RBI and a 1.035 OPS in 18 at-bats. This time around in the 2017 WBC, however, the first baseman found that he was suddenly the experienced veteran, not only when he was in the dugout, but also when he stepped to the plate and opposing pitchers refused to give him anything to hit. "It was weird," Colabello said. "After the first game, I don't think I got a fastball to hit. I'm like, 'Man, am I that good?' No, it was different to be able to kind of be the guy. Me, Drew Butera, Francisco Cervelli -- everybody was kind of looking to us. It was a different feeling, for sure. I hope I was able to help some of those young guys.” Colabello paid tribute to Team Italy manager Marco Mazzieri and said: “I have been close with our manager Marco Mazzieri for a long time. He’s a wonderful baseball man. People don’t think that about Italy, but in international competitions they get it. Italians know how to play tournament baseball when it’s win or go home. We had a lot of fun. He made us believe that we were there to win the thing. We kind of fed off each other."

Team Italy second baseman Daniel Descalso (Arizona Diamondbacks) knows how to perform under pressure having played his share of playoff baseball while a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. During his five years playing for the Cards, he competed in four National League Championship Series and two World Series. When asked about his recent experience playing for Team Italy in the 2017 WBC, the proud Italian American ranks it high on his all-time favorite list. Descalso said, "I had a blast. It was a lot of fun. Probably besides the World Series, the most fun I've had putting a baseball uniform on. Just from the group of guys we had, to the atmosphere, to players representing their countries, the whole mix of it made it a great experience."

Catcher Francisco Cervelli (Pittsburgh Pirates), who returned to play for Team Italy in the 2017 WBC after making his Azzurri debut in the 2009 WBC, shared the experience with his family by bringing them along to Guadalajara to watch the games. He said, “ We were the only people who believed we had a chance to make something happen. We faced amazing teams, the best players in the world. Our guys, they were amazing.” The Venezuela-born Cervelli admitted losing to his native country twice brought “a mix of feelings” but took pride in playing for Italy, where his father was born. "It's special," said Cervelli. "The best thing is seeing my dad in the stands because every time he sees the Italian shirt, he just cries. This time was really special because he was able to go and enjoy. It’s an experience I’m never going to forget."

Though his 2017 WBC experience ended with a hamstring injury which caused the Team Italy center fielder to miss the tiebreaker game against Venezuela, Brandon Nimmo (NY Mets) had a positive experience in Jalisco, Mexico. The Wyoming native’s Italian heritage comes from his mother’s grandparents, who immigrated to the United States and met in La Junta, Colorado. Nimmo said, “I’m not carrying the Italian flag or anything, but I’m very proud of where I come from and the story that’s behind that. It has been passed down, like the Italian food.” In the three games he led off for Team Italy in the 2017 WBC, Nimmo homered once and scored three runs. “I think this is as close to playoff baseball as you can get, and to have that in March is amazing,” said Nimmo. “I just loved every second of it because every pitch mattered, and you were tuned into everything. It didn’t matter what you were doing individually, and so I loved that aspect of it.” Asked if he would play again for Team Italy in the future, even though his WBC experience ended in an injury, Nimmo didn’t have to think twice. “I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he said.

Some of the Azzurri’s strongest proponents are sometimes hidden behind-the scenes or in the press box. One such individual is Lawrence Baldassaro, who served as translator for Team Italy in the 2006 WBC and wrote the book Beyond DiMaggio: Italian Americans in Baseball (Nebraska Press, 2011). An avid supporter of Italian baseball over the years, Baldassaro witnessed firsthand the team chemistry Italy possessed during 2017 WBC Warmup Exhibition games against the Cubs and Athletics in Mesa, Arizona. After Team Italy was eliminated in the 2017 WBC, he wrote some eloquent and comforting words: “Regardless of the outcome, Team Italy comes away from this tournament with the knowledge that they played their hearts out and were on an even footing with some of the best players in the world. Surely their performance, marked throughout by energy, enthusiasm, and camaraderie, was a tribute to Marco Mazzieri and the entire coaching staff.”

Another unsung hero, Joe Quagliano of the Italian American Baseball Family, used social media to convey his heartfelt message on Facebook: “Great effort by Team Italy. Almost beat Venezuela twice in the first round. Very impressed with the Cubs prospect John Andreoli: three home runs and a .315 batting average. However, as the old baseball saying, "pitching wins games" unfortunately held true for the Italians. It was a pleasure working with Italy in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. I had a chance to spend time with Brandon Nimmo, Pat Venditte, Chris Colabello, Alex Liddi and Francisco Cervelli. I also met some new friends Roberto Angotti, Frank Torchia and Bob Garrett. What a great experience! I hope to do it again in four years. Watch for our upcoming documentary on the Italy and Cubs game, which Italy won 8-7 on March 7, 2017.”

The Italian American Baseball Family is a new initiative that evolved from the ideas of former MLB player Frank Catalanotto, Mint Pros president Joe Quagliano and FIBS executive Marco Landi. The Italian American Baseball Family (IABF) is a community of fans, MLB players and baseball executives that are dedicated to the future of Italian American Baseball in the United States and Italy. IABF is committed to supporting The Italian Baseball Academy in Tirrenia, Italy, baseball clinics in the U.S. and Italy, sponsorship opportunities and much more. The IABF was launched on December 8, 2016 with a fundraising dinner hosted by executive board member Carmine Gangone. The event benefited (FIBS) Federation of Italian Baseball and Softball, Italian youth baseball, and honored Team Italy in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. The guest of honor was 2016 Hall of Fame inductee and Team Italy special advisor Mike Piazza.

The second IABF The Italian American Baseball Family dinner for Team Italy took place at Marcellino Ristorante in Scottsdale, Arizona on March 7, 2017.

“It was an honor to have Team Italy present” said Joe Quagliano “along with Italian American Baseball legends Tommy Lasorda, Tony La Russa, Sal Bando and John D’Acquisto. Special thanks to Hall of Famer Ferguson Jenkins, Jose Mota, Mark Littell, FIBS President Andrea Marcon, Carmine Gangone, Frank Torchia, Marco Landi, Michele Gallerani, Mario Salvini, Roberto Angotti, Larry Baldassaro, Rob Cuni, Bob Garrett, Billy Staples, Mead Chasky and MLB.com for making our night so memorable.”

Learn more about the IABF by following us on twitter @IABF5, instagram iabf_official and liking our facebook page at

Support for Team Italy in the 2017 World Baseball Classic was truly an international effort which drew together players, coaches, and supporters from all over the world. Mazzieri’s roster of hand-picked and talented players coalesced into a winning team who represented Italy proudly in every game they played. Bravo Team Italia!

by Roberto Angotti