Roberto Angotti is a cultural historian, writer, film director, curator, and radio DJ who blends his love of baseball, Italian American arts and culture, and music into multi-media creations. His film, Italian American Baseball Family, tells the story of how Italian Americans assimilated into popular culture through America’s favorite pastime, baseball, and how Italian Americans have circled back to Italy to grow the game by playing for Team Italy in the Olympics and the World Baseball Classic. His film features interviews with renowned baseball historian Lawrence Baldassaro, and MLB notables Tommy Lasorda, Frank Viola, Nick Punto, Francisco Cervelli, Brandon Nimmo, Chris Colabello and Gavin Cecchini.
At the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) 42nd Anniversary Gala in November 2017, the movie was screened and won the Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum Award. Most recently, the film received international accolades when it screened and was selected as a Finalist at the World FICTS (Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs) Sport Movies & TV Challenge 2018 in Milan, Italy. Other film screenings have taken place in Rome, Chicago, Cleveland, Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego, Fullerton and St. Louis at Fox Sports Midwest Live!
Angotti is an official Team Italy media representative for Federazione Italiana Baseball Softball (FIBS), and he reports first-hand from international competitions such as the World Baseball Classic and other tournaments. He was first inspired to write about baseball in Italy and the USA, Italian American arts and culture, and music through his blog: http://www.MLBforLife.com.
In 2013, he curated the Artists’ Tribute to Italian Americans in Baseball in San Diego, California. This exhibit paid homage to Italian American baseball players and Team Italy players and coaches from the World Baseball Classic through artwork from renowned artists of Italian descent. Artists’ Tribute to Italian Americans in Baseball opened with art and baseball memorabilia honoring such MLB luminaries as Mike Piazza, Jason Grilli, Frank Catalanotto, Chris Denorfia, Drew Butera, Anthony Rizzo, Chris Colabello, and Alex Liddi.
A graduate of the prestigious Claremont McKenna College in Claremont, California with a bachelor’s degree in Film Studies, Angotti began his filmmaking career with documentaries on The English Beat and UB40. As a radio deejay on KNAC in Long Beach and KROQ in Los Angeles, he launched the career of Grammy nominee Pato Banton in America. Angotti enlisted the services of Pato Banton on his latest film, Introducing Team Italy Manager Mike Piazza, to produce a musical odyssey documentary on the iconic career of the National Baseball Hall of Famer and the new leader of the Italian national baseball program.
Angotti served as international sister city ambassador between Fullerton, California and Tollo (Abruzzo), Italy in honor of long-time Orange County, California resident Tommy Lasorda and the birth place of his father. Sabatino Lasorda, in Italy. Italian American Baseball Family was featured at the Tommy Lasorda Day celebration in Fullerton on September 22, 2021. In addition, the film (with Italian subtitles) was screened at the reciprocal Tollo sister city
celebration in 2022.
Be sure to join the festivities on Monday, February 13, 2023 at the Naples Italian American Foundation, 7035 Airport Pulling Road in Naples, Florida. Doors open at 5 pm. Dinner is included with admission. For tickets and further information, click HERE or call (239) 597-5210.