Baseball in Italy

Baseball begin in Italy during World War II as American G.I.'s brought the game with them, teaching it to local children. The first championship was held in 1948, and today there is a major league, complete with a playoff series in which teams compete for the championship, called the Scudetto.

Organized Leagues
The Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball, similar to Major League Baseball, is the organization that operates the major professional baseball league in Italy. It is currently composed of 10 teams. In the A1 league (the highest level) teams play 54 games during the regular season. The top four teams participate in the playoffs, which features best-of-seven semifinals followed by a best-of-seven Italian championship known as "Lo Scudetto."

The two teams with the worst record in A1 are demoted to A2 for the following season to be replaced by the two best A2 teams. There are 24 A2 teams throughout Italy, with most concentrated north of Florence, while a few are scattered around Grosseto, Nettuno and on the island of Sicily. There is also a third level, known as "B" level, which has 40 teams around the country and is also heavily concentrated in the north. Italy also boasts an eight-team Winter League.

Italian American Major Leaguers
There have been many Italian-American baseball heroes. In fact, if one were to pick a team composed of Italian-Americans who have excelled in baseball over the past century or so—many are, in fact, enshrined at the National Baseball Hall-of-Fame in Cooperstown—the following would be a formidable team:

Manager—Tommy Lasorda / Joe Torre
C—Yogi Berra, Mike Piazza, Joe Torre 1B—Tony Conigliaro, Jason Giambi
2B—Craig Biggio
3B—Ken Caminiti
SS—Phil Rizutto
OF—Joe DiMaggio, Carl Furillo, Lou Piniella
SP—Sal Maglie, Vic Raschi, Mike Mussina, Barry Zito, Frank Viola, John Montefusco
RP—John Franco, Dave Righetti

Special mention to A. Bartlett Giamatti, who served a brief stint as the Commissioner of Major League Baseball in 1989.

Italian Baseball Teams
2012 Italian Baseball League:
T&A San Marino (San Marino)
Caffè Danesi Nettuno (Nettuno)
Unipol Bologna (Bologna)
Elettra Energia Novara (Novara)
De Angelis Godo Knights (Russi)
Cariparma Parma (Parma)
Grosseto Bas A.S.D. (Grosseto)
Rimini (Rimini)

Italian Baseball Terms

il campo di gioco—playing field
diamante—diamond
campo esterno—outfield
monte di lancio—pitcher's mound
la panchina—dugout
la panchina dei lanciatori—bullpen
linee di foul—foul lines
la prima base—first base
la seconda base—second base
la terza base—third base
la casa base (or piatto)—home plate

giocatori—players
battitore—batter
arbitro di casa base—home plate umpire
un fuoricampo—home run

ruoli difensivi—defensive positions (roles)
interni—infielders
esterni—outfielders
lanciatore (L)—pitcher
ricevitore (R)—catcher
prima base (1B)—first baseman
seconda base (2B)—second baseman
terza base (3B)—third baseman
interbase (IB)—shortstop
esterno sinistro (ES)—left fielder
esterno centro (EC)—center fielder
esterno destro (ED)—right fielder

gli oggetti in uso—equipment
cappellino—cap
caschetto—helmet
divisa—uniform
guanto—mitt
mazza—bat
palla—ball
spikes—spikes
mascherina—mask
pettorina—chest protector
schinieri—shin guards