Bobby Valentine to be honored at Italian American Baseball Foundation Fundraising Dinner on December 7, 2017
Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS) president Andrea Marcon, MLB legend Bobby Valentine, baseball philanthropist Steve Napolitano and Team Italy manager Gilberto Gerali 
are joined by Team Italy coach Frank Catalanotto and a slew of past and present MLB players including John Franco, Jeff Nelson, Francisco Cervelli and Brandon Nimmo for the second annual Italian American Baseball Foundation Fundraising Dinner at Carmine’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, 358 Graham Avenue in Brooklyn, New York on Thursday, December 7, 2017.
National Baseball Hall of Fame artist James Fiorentino will present guest of honor Bobby Valentine with his commissioned portrait of the Italian American baseball icon during the dinner ceremonies. In addition, many of Fiorentino's pieces of internationally-acclaimed sports art will be available for purchase alongside "Experience" Auction items by Grandstand Sports and exclusive one-of-a-kind Team Italy memorabilia and apparel. New York Mets announcer and National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame supporter Wayne Randazzo will emcee the event while Italian Tenor Sal Spatola will entertain all guests with his musical genius.
Among the activities planned for the special event, Italian American Baseball Foundation (IABF) president Joe Quagliano will present the 2017 IABF Executive Honor Award to Steve Napolitano and both FIBS president Andrea Marcon and Team Italy manager Gilberto Gerali will give speeches. IABF executive board member Carmine Gangone will once again serve as host of the dinner at his family-owned and operated Italian dining institution, which opened its doors nearly four decades ago by his hard-working Italian immigrant father from Salerno. Last year's fundraising dinner was a smashing success honoring 2016 National Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee and Team Italy special advisor Mike Piazza.
The Italian American Baseball Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charity founded by former MLB player and current Team Italy coach Frank Catalanotto, Mint Pros president Joe Quagliano, FIBS executive Marco Landi and restauranteur Carmine Gangone. All fundraising dinner proceeds will support youth baseball in Italy by building and maintaining ball fields, awarding student-athletes with scholarships and financial aid, purchasing uniforms and equipment as well as organizing pitching, fielding and hitting clinics with MLB instructors under the guidance of FIBS. The Italian American Baseball Foundation is a community of fans, MLB players, and baseball executives dedicated to the future of Italian American baseball in Italy and the USA.
Tickets for the second annual Italian American Baseball Foundation Fundraising Dinner at Carmine’s Restaurant and Sports Bar in Brooklyn on December 7, 2017 are available here:
by Roberto Angotti
