Tony Ciccarello, a West Tampa native with deep baseball roots, talks about the role of baseball in the West Tampa community, where it’s woven into the local culture and heritage.
- Excitement of Baseball in Tampa with the Rays
- Growing Up with Baseball: baseball was integral to his upbringing, with influences from his father and community leaders
- "Baseball Was My Life" Book Discussion: Mark and Tony discuss the book Baseball Was My Life, by Mary Jo Melone and Art Keeble
- West Tampa’s Baseball Successes: Tony shares the story of his Little League team, which was the first from Florida to reach the Little League World Series in 1967.
- Cultural Unity Through Baseball: Mark and Tony touch on how baseball brought together diverse cultures in West Tampa, including families of immigrants - Cuban, Spanish, Italian, and German communities.
- Little League World Series Memories
- Senior League Triumphs: In 1970, the core of Tony’s Little League team continued their success, winning the Senior League World Series in Gary, Indiana, against international teams from Europe, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.
- West Tampa’s Legacy and Community Contributions: Tony talks about the image on the book cover, featuring men who built the West Tampa concession stand, including his father and former Tampa Mayor Nick Nuccio.
- The Shift from Little League to Travel Ball:
- Lifelong Friendships Formed Through Baseball: Tony expresses gratitude for the lifelong friendships he’s maintained with former teammates, highlighting the enduring bonds created through playing in West Tampa.
- Legacy of West Tampa Baseball and Community Spirit:
- Series Commentary
- Community Roots & Family Connections
- Saturday Night Games & Youth Baseball
- Long-Lasting Friendships (00:26:39)
- World Series 2024 & Rays 2020 Memories
- Kevin Cash is a Genius
- The Value of Youth Sports Facilities
- Reference Notes & Links
- West Tampa Little League - https://www.thewesttampall.org/
- Baseball Was My Life the Stories of West Tampa
Melone, Mary Jo & Keeble, Art https://hcplc.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S142C603382
Special Thanks to Williams Ross Chernoff's Nomads for the music Makie Elkino
Show Notes created in part by ChatGPT
