May 3, 2016 – Brooklyn native Ken Aspromonte frustrated his family when he was young by choosing to root for the Yankees instead of the Dodgers (who did not have Joe DiMaggio in their lineup). One of many future major leaguers who grew up playing baseball on Brooklyn’s famed Parade Grounds, Aspromonte was an infielder who played for the Red Sox, Senators, Indians, Angels, Braves and Cubs between 1957-63. He then spent three years (1964-66) playing in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons and the Taiyo Whales. From 1972 to 1974 he managed the Cleveland Indians, compiling a record of 220-260.

His younger brother, Bob, was a major league infielder who played for the Astros, Dodgers, Braves, and Mets over the course of a 13-year career between 1956 and 1971. In 2012, both brothers were inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

Ken has been very active in the National Italian American Foundation, serving as Executive Vice President, a member of the Board of Directors, and as Regional Vice President for the Southwest.

Here he reminisces about an unusual batting tip he got from Hall-of-Famer Ted Williams, playing against the all-time Japanese home run king, Sadaharu Oh, and a brawl in which players of the two opposing teams fought together against unruly fans at a ten-cent beer night.