the Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum

Award-winning director Roberto Angotti presents double feature at Naples Italian American Foundation on February 13, 2023

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(Basil Russo, Roberto Angotti, John Viola and Maria Bartiromo at the 2017 NIAF Gala) 

Roberto Angotti is a cultural historian, writer, film director, curator, and radio DJ who blends his love of baseball, Italian American arts and culture, and music into multi-media creations. His film, Italian American Baseball Family, tells the story of how Italian Americans assimilated into popular culture through America’s favorite pastime, baseball, and how Italian Americans have circled back to Italy to grow the game by playing for Team Italy in the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic. His film features interviews with renowned baseball historian Lawrence Baldassaro, and MLB notables Tommy Lasorda, Frank Viola, Nick Punto, Francisco Cervelli, Brandon Nimmo, Chris Colabello and Gavin Cecchini.

At the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) 42nd Anniversary Gala in November 2017, the movie was screened and won the Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum Award. Most recently, the film received international accolades when it screened and was selected as a Finalist at the World FICTS (Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs) Sport Movies & TV Challenge 2018 in Milan, Italy. Other film screenings have taken place in Rome, Chicago, Cleveland, Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego, Fullerton and St. Louis at Fox Sports Midwest Live!

Angotti is an official Team Italy media representative for Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS), and he reports first-hand from international competitions such as the World Baseball Classic and other tournaments. He was first inspired to write about baseball in Italy and the USA, Italian American arts and culture, and music through his blog: http://www.MLBforLife.com.

In 2013, he curated the Artists’ Tribute to Italian Americans in Baseball in San Diego, California. This exhibit paid homage to Italian American baseball players and Team Italy players and coaches from the World Baseball Classic through artwork from renowned artists of Italian descent. Artists’ Tribute to Italian Americans in Baseball opened with art and baseball memorabilia honoring such MLB luminaries as Mike Piazza, Jason Grilli, Frank Catalanotto, Chris Denorfia, Drew Butera, Anthony Rizzo, Chris Colabello, and Alex Liddi. 

A graduate of the prestigious Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California with a bachelor’s degree in Film Studies, Angotti began his filmmaking career with documentaries on The English Beat and UB40. As a radio deejay on KNAC in Long Beach and KROQ in Los Angeles, he launched the career of Grammy nominee Pato Banton in America. Angotti enlisted the services of Pato Banton on his latest film, Introducing Team Italy Manager Mike Piazza, to produce a musical odyssey documentary on the iconic career of the National Baseball Hall of Famer and the new leader of the Italian national baseball program.

Angotti served as international sister city ambassador between Fullerton, California and Tollo (Abruzzo), Italy in honor of long-time Orange County, California resident Tommy Lasorda and the birth place of his father. Sabatino Lasorda, in Italy. Italian American Baseball Family was featured at the Tommy Lasorda Day celebration in Fullerton on September 22, 2021. In addition, the film (with Italian subtitles) was screened at the reciprocal Tollo sister city
celebration in 2022.

Be sure to join the festivities on Monday, February 13, 2023 at the Naples Italian American Foundation, 7035 Airport Pulling Road in Naples, Florida. Doors open at 5 pm. Dinner is included with admission. For tickets and further information, click HERE or call (239) 597-5210.

Celebrate “Baseball Italian Style” in San Francisco on April 26 and San Diego on April 28, 2018

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baseball-italian-style-baldassaro-lawrenceThe Museo Italo Americano and the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club as well as the San Diego Little Italy’s Amici House and Convivio are proud to co-present exciting nights in San Francisco (April 26) and San Diego (April 28) celebrating “Baseball Italian Style”. Special guests include renowned author Lawrence Baldassaro (Beyond DiMaggio: Italian Americans in Baseball and Baseball Italian Style) and award-winning filmmaker Roberto Angotti (Italian American Baseball Family). Professor Lawrence Baldassaro will sign all books purchased at these once-in-a-lifetime events. Lovers of history and baseball alike will be mesmerized with the newfound knowledge exchanged in San Francisco and San Diego.

Beyond DiMaggio
“Beyond DiMaggio: Italian Americans in Baseball” by Professor Lawrence Baldassaro was originally published in 2011.

Engaging critically-acclaimed author Lawrence Baldassaro will present his new book Baseball Italian Style: Great Stories Told by Italian American Major Leaguers from Crosetti to Piazza, which brings together the memories of major leaguers of Italian heritage whose collective careers span almost a century from the 1930s until today. The men who speak in this collection, which includes eight Hall of Famers (Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Ron Santo, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza, Tommy Lasorda, Tony La Russa, and Joe Torre), go beyond statistics to provide an inside look at life in the big leagues. Their stories provide a time capsule that documents not only the evolution of Italian American participation in the national pastime but also the continuity of the game and the many changes that have taken place, on and off the field. University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Professor Emeritus Lawrence Baldassaro will donate all royalties from his book, Baseball Italian Style, to the Jimmy Fund in Boston, which supports the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research. Purchase the book now by clicking HERE.

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Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda and Lawrence Baldassaro, who served as interpreter for Team Italy during the 2016 World Baseball Classic

Immediately following Professor Baldassaro’s lecture, the award-winning documentary, Italian American Baseball Family, will be shown. Director Roberto Angotti will introduce the film and author Lawrence Baldassaro will be available for book signings immediately following the movie. Recipient of a grant from the National Italian American Foundation, the Italian Sons and Daughters of America and the Russo Brothers, Angotti documented the Italian American experience on how Italians assimilated into popular culture through America’s favorite pastime, and how Italian Americans have circled back to Italy to help grow the game abroad by playing for Team Italy in the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic. He is excited to bring the movie to San Francisco, hometown of Ping Bodie, Tony Lazzeri, Frank Crosetti, the DiMaggio brothers and so many others. Italian American Baseball Family traverses the U.S. cultural landscape and documents an ethnic group’s rise from adversity by celebrating its triumphs in breaking into a sport originally dominated by English, Irish and German immigrants. The film showcases both the hardships and accomplishments of legendary Italian American baseball players.

Angotti Baldassaro photo
Director Roberto Angotti and author Lawrence Baldassaro at the National Italian American Foundation 42nd Anniversary Gala on November 4, 2017 in Washington, D.C.

SFIAC
The San Francisco Italian Athletic Club has served the Italian American community for over 100 years.

To reserve tickets for the Thursday, April 26 event at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club, 1630 Stockton Street in San Francisco’s North Beach, call Museo Italo Americano at 415-673-2200 or click HERE. The fun begins promptly at 6 pm with complimentary antipasti and a no-host bar.

Little Italy SD

Tickets for the Saturday, April 28 event at Amici House, located at Amici Park (250 Date Street at the corner of Union and Date Streets) in San Diego’s Little Italy can be reserved HERE. The welcome reception begins at 6 pm. Guests will be escorted to the lecture and film screening at nearby Washington Elementary Auditorium.