AL East Tightens up at the top, Yankees, Blue Jays & Rays 

Quiz: Which Living Legend has 1,000 wins as a player & 1,800 plus wins 

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

Quiz Answer

Find Mat @matgermain.bsky.social & Mark @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social. You may also find Baseball Biz on Deck, at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, and at baseball biz on deck dot com

Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward,