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Larry Baldassaro, R.I.P.

It’s with a very heavy heart that I was informed yesterday that my good friend Larry Baldassaro passed away on Tuesday, aged 83. I don’t know the details of his death, but I remember that Larry had some respiratory issues the last time I saw him, and maybe that contributed to his passing. I hadn’t heard from him for a while, and just this week, I found myself thinking about him and hoping he was OK. And then a day or two later, I was informed of his passing.

I know that not all of you will recognize the name. Larry was one of the finest baseball history writers I’ve ever known. One of his books, Tony Lazerri, is featured here in the right-hand sidebar. At the time I read it, I thought this would become the definitive book on the great Yankee second baseman, and I still think that assessment is accurate. Another of his books, Beyond DiMaggio, is one of my all-time favorite books, and I’ve recounted scenes from that book here on Baseball History Comes Alive numerous times.  

Larry and I met at a SABR meeting a number of years ago. It was one of those things where we started talking and then just somehow hit it off. Probably our mutual Italian heritage and our mutual interest in baseball history had something to do with it. After that, we became friends and stayed in contact over the years, which included numerous dinner get-togethers and a couple of Cub games at Wrigley Field when he was in town. As always, our conversations centered around baseball history, Italian ball players, and the Italian language, of which Larry was fluent. He was always interested in hearing more about my two years living in Italy when I was in the Navy. 

Larry was a professor of Italian at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His interest was Italian ball players, and he interviewed many of them over the years (see above with Yogi Berra and below with Tommy Lasorda). He wrote a wonderful book recounting the history of Italian ball players in the major leagues.

Being from the East Coast, however, his favorite player was Ted Williams, and I remember very vividly Larry relating to me the day he actually interviewed Ted Williams in his living room. It was a day that Larry never forgot. 

Anyway, I was very saddened to hear the news of Larry’s passing. The baseball literature world has lost one of its finest writers, and I’ve lost a good friend.

Rest in Peace, Larry

Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: All found on Google search

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