Those Yankees Italian American Baseball Heroes….

Marty Appel sent over this fun product that recently came out. The National Ethnic Heritage Foundation has released an Italian American Baseball Heroes Card Set. This is a must for any baseball fan or card collector.

The Yankees seem to have more Italian stars than any other team. The set includes: Lazzeri, Crosetti, DiMaggio, Berra, Pepitone, Giambi, Torrre, Girardi, Rizzuto, Pettitte, Martin, etc.

ITALIAN AMERICAN BASEBALL HEROES CARD SET

The National Ethnic Heritage Foundation in partnership with the Order of Sons of Italy in America is proud to announce the first ever limited edition set of Heritage Cards honoring Italian American Baseball Heroes from the pioneer Buttercup Dickerson in 1878 to Dodger manager Joe Torre in 2009. This historic collectible box of 100 cards, made from original oil paintings commissioned specifically for this set, honors the Italian-Americans who contributed to making baseball America’s game. For some, this is their first ever card. For all, this is the most beautiful card ever issued. Everyone knows Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Tommy Lasorda, and Yogi Berra, but how many remember the other two fabulous DiMaggio brothers or Sam Mele, Manager of the Year in 1965? The backs of the cards are a treasure trove of Italian American baseball lore.

Via Press Release:

PRODUCED BY ORDER SONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA

New York – The rich history of Italian Americans in Major League Baseball is told for the first time in an educational and handsome set of 100 baseball cards, available now.

The cards, will be appreciated by collectors, baseball historians, and Americans of Italian origin, and celebrate not only the greatest names – Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Ernie Lombardi, Tom Lasorda, Yogi Berra, Tony Lazzeri, Phil Rizzuto, Roy Campanella, and broadcaster Joe Garagiola, possible future Hall of Famers like Tony LaRussa, Joe Torre, Billy Martin, Ron Santo, Craig Biggio, Mike Piazza and Andy Pettitte, but such popular figures as Tony Conigliaro, Rocky Colavito, John Franco, Lee Mazzilli, Joe Pepitone, Mike Scioscia, Joe Girardi and Terry Francona.

The cards are a product of the National Ethnic Heritage Foundation in partnership with the Order of Sons of Italy in America, with sets available for a $49 donation to the Sons of Italy Foundation, a 501 ( c )3 charitable foundation. 

Only 10,000 sets have been produced, and each card features original oil portraits of the subjects by a team of artists supervised by the acclaimed George Kotsovos,   (www.theworkofgeorgekotsovos.com)

In addition to a full color portrait on the front, the cards feature biographical information and lifetime statistics on the back.  The five-color printing process includes metallic gold foil on 16- gauge stock, heavily coated with a UV inhibitor to prevent fading.  The cards are handsomely packaged and shrink wrapped in a 5 ¾” x 7” x 1 ½” gift box.

The 100 subjects selected for the set were researched and selected by originally by consensus of  various experts and the with valued comments from the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, as well as individual baseball historians.  Included aside from players are former Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti, umpire Babe Pinelli, Arizona Diamondbacks founding owner Jerry Colangelo, and legendary

Atlanta pitching coach Leo Mazzone, featured on his first ever card apart from minor league cards.

Also receiving his “first card” is Lewis Pessano “Buttercup” Dickerson, who broke into the major leagues in 1878 with the Cincinnati Red Stockings, making him the first Italian-American in the game.

Other familiar names are Dom and Vince DiMaggio, Bobby Valentine, Steve Sax, Vic Raschi, Dave Righetti, Jason Giambi, Sal Maglie, Frank Malzone, Gary Gaetti, Carl Furillo, Frank Crosetti, Jack Clark, Rick Cerone, Bernie Carbo, Dolph Camilli, Mark Belanger, Sal Bando, Johnny Antonelli and Barry Zito. And what set would be complete without collector’s favorite Don Mossi!?

The cards are not sold commercially, and are available through the two websites – www.nehf.org and www.osia.org.  The donation is acknowledged with a fully tax deductible receipt from Order Sons of Italy Foundation.  Discounts are available for three or more sets.