Email: joe@ferrarasports.com

A Friend Remembered

He sat beside me in the Press Box as we covered the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

He loved music and often, after work, would go to local venues where there was live music, most of the time knowing the performer(s)

He worked for and with the late Jimmy Buffett, helping to establish “Margaritaville.”

He hosted a radio show on Radio Trop Rock and was often referred to as a “walking encyclopedia” of music.

The baseball community, music industry, fans, friends, and family will certainly miss him but will never forget him, his soft voice, and pleasant demeanor.

He is Steve Huntington, my friend, for whom I am grateful, and I thank God for being fortunate to know and spend time with him.

Rest in Peace, Steve, and enjoy the “music” of the Angels……in Heaven

That Baby's Gone!!!!.........

The call of a home run by the home team!!! His dedication to the sport is unparalleled, and his career has spanned nearly fifty years and over 7,000 major league baseball games. Since the Tampa Bay Rays joined the American League in 1998, he has been their passionate and dedicated play-by-play announcer, a role he continues to excel in.

His baseball (playing) career was brief, but he said, “My claim to fame was throwing a nine-inning no-hitter while striking out 18” and losing the game. He had aspirations of making it to the big leagues, but after playing with a young man he called a “manchild” who was a tremendous player who did not draw any attention, he figured he had no chance!

While still in college, he began announcing professional baseball with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers of the American Association. After graduating, he became the sports director for a TV station in St. Louis. Before joining the Rays, he worked for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, and ESPN. When asked who encouraged him most, he mentioned Gene Elston, Harry Caray, and Jack Buck.

Alongside former major league baseball player Brian Anderson (fondly known as BA), he not only broadcasts games but also serves as the master of ceremonies for many Rays events, including induction ceremonies into the Rays Hall of Fame and other special events. His game preparation includes working at his home office researching the players on the visiting team for the next game.

More than just a sports figure, he and his wife Carla have made a significant impact through their non-profit foundation, Warriors At Rest. This foundation provides “equine therapy” to law enforcement and first responders, offering stress-relieving sessions with horses trained to act much like “service dogs.” Their dedication to this cause is truly admirable. He and Carla, who now own three horses, frequently visit the local farm where the horses are stabled to assist in their grooming and maintenance.

When is retirement for DeWayne Staats, voice of the Tampa Bay Rays? In his words, it is “difficult to speculate” because he loves what he does.

Who Deservies The Win

I can never understand why baseball has a rule that punishes a player for doing something extraordinary. Case in point: On June 5th in this 2026 season, Dodger starter Roki Sasaki threw 7 innings of 2-hit ball, while giving up no runs. He walked 2 batters and struck out 10. He threw 98 pitches, 72 for strikes, and because of MLB rule Rule 9.17 (formerly Rule 10.17), which states: “A starting pitcher must pitch at least 5 innings (in a traditional 9-inning game) to qualify for a win, and leave the game with their team holding a lead that is never relinquished.” It goes even further. “Relief Pitcher: If a starter does not complete the required innings, the win is awarded to the relief pitcher who was the "pitcher of record" when the team took the lead and maintained it for the rest of the game.” He did not get the win.

Enter Blake Treinen, who relieves Tanner Scott with two outs and a runner at second in this 0-0 game, and throws one (1) pitch and gets a groundball out to end the top of the ninth inning. Treinen gets the win when Freddie Freeman hits a leadoff walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

MLB has changed many rules in the span of over 130 years. Recent changes are putting a runner at second base to start the tenth inning of a tied game. Pitch clocks to speed up the game, pizza-sized bases, and two disengagements by the pitcher, per plate appearance with runners on base.

Maybe it is time to change Rule 9.17 that punishes a starting pitcher who is pitching a masterpiece while his offense can't score a run.

William Coppola

Clearwater Threshers

The Week in Review: May 26-31

Tuesday, May 26 — Clearwater 10, Dunedin 8

The Threshers scored in the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings to erase an 8-3 deficit. Juan Villavicencio had 3 hits. Griffin Burkholder and Alirio Ferrebus had 2 hits each. Jonathan Hogart had 2 hits, 2 runs, and 2 RBI. Nolan Beltran hit a 2-run homer and scored 2 runs. Robert Phelps had 2 hits, 2 runs, and 2 RBI. Tegan Cain earned his first win and Marty Gair got his third save.

Wednesday, May 27 — Clearwater 16, Dunedin 6

Clearwater scored in each of the first six innings. Matt Ferrara had 3 hits. Burkholder had 2 hits. Hogart had 2 hits, 4 runs, and 5 RBI. Phelps scored 4 runs, had 3 RBI, and hit a 3-run homer. Jacob Pruitt earned his third win.

Thursday, May 28 — Clearwater 12, Dunedin 11 in 10 innings

After Dunedin scored 3 in the top of the 10th, Clearwater answered with 4. Phelps had 3 hits. Tjayy Walton, Angel Mata, and Victor Cardoza combined for 8 runs, 5 hits, and 5 RBI. Ferrara hit his fifth triple.

Friday, May 29 — Dunedin 8, Clearwater 3

Ferrara had 2 hits and Beltran hit his fourth homer.

Saturday, May 30 — Clearwater 6, Dunedin 5

Phelps had 3 hits, 2 runs, a double, and a homer. Will Vieling had 2 hits and Leon homered.

Sunday, May 31 — Clearwater 6, Dunedin 1

Phelps and Ferrebus had 2 hits each. Leon homered with 3 RBI, and Ferrara homered with 2 RBI.

Series Summary

• 92 total runs scored, Clearwater 53 and Dunedin 39.

• Robert Phelps raised his average from .252 to .278 with 11 hits in 27 at-bats, 10 runs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 7 RBI.

Quite a week!!!!

MDW Madness: Two Dominant Victories in NCAA Lacrosse Final Four

NCAA Lacrosse • Memorial Day Weekend

On Memorial Day Monday, the ultimate survivor of this year's NCAA college lacrosse tournament will be decided.

Princeton returns to championship weekend for the first time since 2001, but this is no underdog story. Ranked #1, the Tigers overpowered Duke 14-7 behind Chad Palumbo, Nate Kabiri, Tucker Wade, and OC Jim Mitchell's high-powered offense.

Their defense may be even better. Ryan Croddick earned MVP with 20 saves, holding Duke to 7 goals on 47 shots. Defense wins championships, but now Princeton must solve Notre Dame.

Before 2023, Notre Dame had reached the Final Four five times and the national championship twice without winning it all. Then the Fighting Irish broke through and won back-to-back national titles.

Notre Dame beat Syracuse 15-7, but the game was tighter than the score suggests. Syracuse cut the lead to two late in the third before the Irish closed on a 6-0 run in the fourth.

Josh Yago, an Air Force graduate student awaiting deployment in the Space Force, has been the hottest story for Notre Dame, scoring 7 points in both the quarterfinal and semifinal.

Catch the Tigers' latest highlight on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVbjyx5DuvL/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Although earlier in the year I picked ND to win it all, I think the Tigers have something special and will find themselves on the mountaintop this year.

Final score prediction line: Princeton 15 - Notre Dame 13

(JONAH/Milwaukee-5.23.26)

Diamond Gems

(MILWAUKEE). On Saturday, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Mislorowski threw 57 pitches over 100 miles per hour, while striking out 12 in a win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

(HOUSTON) Rookie Japanese pitcher Tatsuya Imal had a no-hitter for six innings and relievers Steven Okert and Aimber Santa competed the no-hitte in ra win over the Chicgo White Sox.

(BALTIMORE) Oriole oufielder Colton Cowser hit walkfoff home runs in consecuive games to etablish a club recordd.

(NEW YOR) With runners on second and third in a game against the Rays, Yankee left fielder Cody Bellinger fielded a soft single and threw to third to get the runner BEFORE the first funner could scor,
hit a walk-off wo run home ;run.

5-27-26

A First Game at Ebbets Field

LOS ANGELES. Baseball has always been a way for fathers and sons to bond. Whether having a catch or taking a son to a game, I will never forget my first baseball game with my Dad and three busloads of little leaguers at Ebbets Field. With the internet, and that day burned into my memory, I figured out the game was on June 23, 1956.

I would be seeing his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers play the Cincinnati Red Legs. I remember the first sight of the light towers and the massive building rising above the neighborhood around Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, and then walking through a dark, cool tunnel on a beautiful, warm summer day, when a burst of light hit me like a cloud from heaven.

There was only a black-and-white TV back then, and I was not expecting what was to come next: color! The infield was incredible, with beautifully manicured green grass, and those pure white Dodger uniforms with that blue script and red number in front.

The first player I recognized was the Reds' big first baseman, Ted Kluszewski, with his massive bare arms exploding out from under the cut-sleeve uniforms the Red Legs wore. I knew he never wore a sweatshirt under his jersey from a baseball card I had of him. My Dad told me that Jackie Robinson, Pee-Wee Reese, and Duke Snyder played that day. Frank Robinson played left field right in front of where I was seated. There were a lot of future Hall of Fame players playing that summer day in Brooklyn.

A ballpark's sights, sounds, and smells are special to me. I have been hooked ever since then, and I know my last breath on this earth will put me back at Ebbets Field on that beautiful summer day with my Dad.

Bill Coppola 5/17/2026

A Baseball Story Without Baseball

He was born in Italy on February 5, 1913, coincidentally the same birth date as home run legend Henry Aaron.

For this article, we will call him Tony. Later in 1913, Tony, his parents, and four sisters arrived at Ellis Island. In 1924, his father died, leaving his mother to raise five children alone until her death in 1942.

Tony became a U.S. citizen in 1937. Although he had no formal education beyond grammar school, as you continue reading, you will realize how intelligent he was. If you did not have the pleasure of knowing him, you would have wished you did, and if you did know him, you appreciated him.

Shortly after the death of his mother, he married and in 1944 was blessed with the birth of his only child, his son, who was the apple of his eye.

At some point in the 1940s, in addition to his regular job as a grocery clerk, he landed a part-time position with the Boston Braves. He was befriended by utility infielder Sibby Sisti and became known to many players, coaches, scouts, and other members of the organization.

As a favor to a friend, Tony requested a meeting with scout Jeff Jones at his home to interview his friend's nephew to arrange a tryout with the Braves. The nephew was offered a tryout and assigned to the team's Waycross, Georgia, training facility, where the tryout would take place. To Tony's dismay, the nephew chose a girlfriend over the tryout and never reported.

After the 1952 season, the Braves relocated to Milwaukee, but Tony, due to his regular employment, could not follow. In 1953, when his son was playing for a minor Little League team, a manager requested Tony allow his son to join a major team. Tony declined, saying his son was not yet ready, a testament to his thoughtful understanding of baseball and of his son's development.

The following year, after moving his family to another city, his son tried out and was selected for a position on a major Little League team. Tony attended many of his games and at one of them noticed his son, who was having difficulty making contact, was waving his bat much like his son's favorite player, Henry Aaron. After the game, he asked his son what he was doing. His son replied, “Henry Aaron does that, so I thought I would do the same.” Tony answered, “Son, you are not Henry Aaron!”

After his son graduated from Little League, Tony was offered a managerial position with the White Sox, the Little League team his son had played for. He accepted the position and later, in addition to managing a team, became president of the local Little League organization. He spent several years in various positions in Little League until his untimely and unexpected death in 1969.

Who was Tony? To me, he was Dad, my biggest fan, my best friend, and my hero—Anthony Louis Ferrara, the smartest and most gentle man I have known.

As tears flowed while I wrote this article, I remembered the man—the father, the husband—who, while alive, was underappreciated by his son. He was an immigrant from Italy who taught me so much about life… and baseball.

As the years pass, I thank God every day for the blessing of bearing his name and wish every young boy could experience the love and caring I was fortunate to have.

God bless you, Dad. I love you and miss you. Your death was a loss to the world but a GAIN FOR HEAVEN.

(joe-4.9.26)

Teaching Mom

Today I did something I never imagined myself doing. I ordered a “Hockey for Dummies 2026 Edition.” Let me explain.

My daughter Kathryn is a beautiful, accomplished young woman who is also a total sports aficionado — NASCAR, baseball, football, basketball — but her real passion is NHL hockey. While I appreciate the skill and physical conditioning that goes into playing, what I understand about hockey could fit on a pinhead.

They skate up and down an icy surface — God bless their youthful balance — chasing that puck, trying their hardest to keep it away from the other team and score a goal. Then there’s an inevitable fight when things get heated. Note to any moms out there reading this: it is not OK to yell, “Don’t you hit him!” from the stands. First and last time I was invited to use the spare game ticket.

Now that it’s Stanley Cup playoff time, my quest is to fully understand what boarding, cross-checking, high-sticking, and hooking mean, as well as what color lines can and cannot be crossed. And what’s up with pulling the goalie? What are the odds a team can’t score with no goalie?

It’s going to be a journey, but I’m sure Kathryn will appreciate my efforts to learn the game so she doesn’t have to explain the same things over and over and over….

(Note from Kathryn – my wonderful loving mother wrote installment one while I have been losing my mind on a work project. Next time I will pick up with the tale of teaching a 70 plus year old woman about why offsides in hockey looks nothing like offsides in football and could I please write to someone to change that….)

(Diana-Omaha 5.16.26)

A Friend and Legend Remembered

Seven years ago, on Valentine’s Day, not only did I lose my friend and mentor, but many former and current Major League Baseball executives, players, coaches, fans, and other members of MLB also did. Tom Giordano, affectionately known as “T-Bone”. I’m sure most fans never heard of him, but most people in baseball did, and if they didn’t know him personally, they knew about him.

Among his many accomplishments, in 1953, playing for Savannah of the South Atlantic League, he out-homered Henry Aaron (24-22), who was playing for the Jacksonville Braves in the first year of his professional career. Later that year, Tom was called up by the Philadelphia Athletics, and hit a home run in his first game in the Major League. Though his playing career was short, he became a coach, manager, and scout, eventually signing Cal Ripken and Manny Ramirez to major league contracts.

As a baseball executive later in life, Tom was instrumental in building championship teams in Oakland and Baltimore during the 1970s and 1980s. He also discovered John Hart, assisting him in Cleveland, Texas, and Atlanta.

I met Tom in 2016 and was asked by him to help with his duties as a scout for the Atlanta Braves, and I did so until his passing in 2019, at the age of 93, his 73rd year in baseball.

T-Bone and Ribeye—which was the nickname Tom gave me—were more than names; they represented a bond built on mutual respect and deep friendship, not just a menu item at Bern’s Steak House in Tampa.

Rest in peace Tom. I love you, I miss you, and I am so grateful to have had you in my life.

(Joe-5.9.26)