Italian Baseball in San Francisco

The Mayor visited San Francisco today at the request of the Museo Italiano at Fort mason Center in SF's Marina District. It was a typically SF summer day: thick fog rolling through the Gate on a stiff ocean breeze sending temperatures plunging and tourists scurrying for shelter. The Museo, a long time tenant like its neighbor-Green's restaurant, is holding a special exhibition devoted to the history of baseball in San Francisco, the Bay Area, and the USA in general.
The curator did a fantastic job, utilizing mixed media to warm the viewer to America's great pastime. With photos,old and new, memorabilia of all types: bats, balls, gloves, bobble-heads, programs, magazines, jerseys, cleats, and various souvenirs, the story is told how Italians embraced the sport as second generation young boys became baseball fanatics.
Soon they had heroes with names ending in vowels: Dimaggio, Crosetti, Lazzari, Berra, Rizzuto, and some not so famous : Benedetti, Bosio, Pixei, Cirimeli, to name a few.
They learned their craft on the City's sandlots, giving the name to a time honored venue for a game of pick up baseball. The City embraced these determined young men, and the press told story after story of their heroics at bat, in the field, and on the mound throwing heat.
Baseball cards were included and many a fan had his favorites among the TOPPS editions.
Tommy Lasorda, Tony LaRussa, Frank Lucchese, and Joe Girardi were some of the players who went on to manage successfully at the minor and major league levels.
Of course, as a San Francisco product the Mayor noted some glaring omissions. On the one hand they include Jim Gentile, a long time slugger with the Baltimore Orioles, on the other they omitted his teammate Frank Bertaina, the hard throwing lefty who graduated from Sacred Heart in 1961 and played 8 years, including the World Series winning team of 1968. They also omitted the NCAA Player of the Year of 1968 who played at Santa Clara and was drafted after graduation and never played at the pro level despite the promise and the offer: Vince Bigoni.

Despite these shortcomings, it's a fine testimony to the local Italian community and one of the many contributions made to the City during its long and proud history.