A bigger challenge than winning ballgames, it turns out, has been understanding the nuances of Italian culture. That’s because Italy’s roster has one glaring omission—actual Italians.
Baseball is a niche sport in soccer-crazed Italy. Only two born-and-raised Italians have ever reached the majors. And only three players participating in the WBC hail from Italy.
As a result, Italy’s WBC roster is composed mostly of Italian-American big-leaguers and prospects who weren’t chosen for Team USA but were eligible under the tournament’s heritage rules. Some of them have never actually been to the homeland.
They are, however, doing their best to bring a taste of Italy to the event. Andrea Bocelli’s “Con te partirò” blasts over the stadium loudspeaker after wins. Team Italy has an Armani jacket to drape on anyone who hits a homer while downing his shot of coffee. Team captain Vinnie Pasquantino then finishes the ritual by kissing his teammate once on each cheek.
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A bigger challenge than winning ballgames, it turns out, has been understanding the nuances of Italian culture. That’s because Italy’s roster has one glaring omission—actual Italians.
Baseball is a niche sport in soccer-crazed Italy. Only two born-and-raised Italians have ever reached the majors. And only three players participating in the WBC hail from Italy.
As a result, Italy’s WBC roster is composed mostly of Italian-American big-leaguers and prospects who weren’t chosen for Team USA but were eligible under the tournament’s heritage rules. Some of them have never actually been to the homeland.
They are, however, doing their best to bring a taste of Italy to the event. Andrea Bocelli’s “Con te partirò” blasts over the stadium loudspeaker after wins. Team Italy has an Armani jacket to drape on anyone who hits a homer while downing his shot of coffee. Team captain Vinnie Pasquantino then finishes the ritual by kissing his teammate once on each cheek.
Read more (free link): [https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/team-italy-world-baseball-classic-espresso-33aa85df?st=4wNx9i&mod=wsjreddit](https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/team-italy-world-baseball-classic-espresso-33aa85df?st=4wNx9i&mod=wsjreddit)
Crazy title
So they’re not actually Italians. They’re just Americans with Italian last names
Yawn dont care