The best gift arrived in advance: Azzurra was born three days ago, ready to celebrate the 40th anniversary of father Stefano, or rather Rea for all baseball friends. The best way to cross the fateful milestone of forty springs for an eternal boy like Stefano Realini, who despite his good age has decided to stay on the field for another year with his Senago: “Yes, if it’s true, as it seems, that finally the stands of the field will end and with the hope of playing a season less tormented by the problems of the pandemic, I would like to end this way, with a flourish “. And then devote himself to Azzurra, who perhaps called that also to announce a future as a national softball team: “No, I don’t think so, also because her mother has already told me not to infect her with my passion …”.
A passion that has binded Realini to baseball for a lifetime, since he was a child he grew up in the Malnate youth academy. Then a lot of Senago, a year in Bollate and the experience with United that led him to be the player with the most appearances in the years of the Milanese franchise (227 between 2009 and ’16) and also gave him his debut in IBL1 with Novara which at the time was part of the group. In total 660 games played in a career spanning more than twenty years and spent mainly in A2, with a respectable average life of 288 and an excellent external resume. Born in Varese on 29 January 1982, he was United’s best hitter for two consecutive years (2012-13) and is the second center winger in the history of Milan alone with 215 games played as a starter, behind Ivan Guerci ( 264) and in front of Bob Gandini (197). With the record of 53 consecutive games in position number 8 between 2011 and 2013.
But let’s go back to the origins of it all: how did you discover baseball?
“Simply at school, in Malnate, where, as all the teams do, they had come to promote our sport. I liked it right away, even though I was already playing tennis and soccer at the time. But when I went to try baseball I was never able to break away ”.
A life in the fields, which however took you away from Malnate almost immediately.
“Yes, ever since I found myself in the boys’ national team. Because they immediately came to contact me, starting with Marco Borroni who at that time was coaching the Bollate and reported me to Bertani. Then, immediately after, Daniele Bortolomai and Michele Minervino arrived who were training the Senago youth teams and told me: come to us. And I, who already knew some guys from Senago with whom I had been to the selection meetings, chose this solution “.
A choice that then tied you to the Senago for almost your entire career.
“Yes, even if one year I also went to play in Bollate, in 2007. In Senago the club had made certain choices and I found myself changing teams. But it was only a parenthesis “.
Then, from 2009, you found yourself in the experience of SenagoMilano United …
“Yes, and it remains the biggest regret of my career. Because unfortunately it has remained a halved experiment, while we could have enhanced it more. But perhaps we mostly paid for the lack of adequate facilities. Perhaps those of my generation, but also those who came later, had the misfortune of playing in a period in which there was no strong team of reference in our area. If only there had been the Milan of a few years before, probably many of us would have had a different career, we could have played a lot more in A1 ”.
True, but what you have lost should be the goal of the young people starting now.
“Yes, even if I see less passion and less interest on their part than we did. But it probably always depends on the offer we offer him, because a boy must be attracted to a nice field, to a game played in the spotlight, to the outline that is what we lack today. As a kid, I forced my father to travel a billion kilometers to take me from Malnate to see A1 matches in Bollate or Kennedy. But I grew up having players like Mauro Marazzi, Caio Mattielli or Ivan Guerci in my eyes. And seeing fields with the lights on and the stands full, at least for those who were my child’s eyes. If we want to stimulate the kids, that kind of reality must come back ”.
Beyond the missed opportunity, what memories do you have of the United years?
“Well, those have been wonderful years. After a first year of adjustment, with many problems also to unite the two groups, we immediately took great satisfaction in 2010 by going to play for the A2 playoffs and losing the semifinal in Reggio Emilia, to then win the Italian cup of the category. A great season with valuable foreigners like Renny Duarte, Silva, Wong, Mejia. A season in which I personally had a mediocre league, but then maybe I was the best hitter in the playoffs. And then the franchise gave me the opportunity to play also in IBL1 because in those seasons we were also connected to Novara who, after an initial tug-of-war, put me on the roster. I remember my debut in the first game against San Marino as a pinch hitter, then I played the second game in which I was 3 out of 4. So suddenly Palma, who was the manager, put me fourth in the third game against Thiago Da Silva and I took three kappa … But the best thing about that season was the fact that I could play an incredible amount of games, because after the three challenges in IBL1, on Sundays I almost always went to help the IBL2 team coached by Piero Bonetti. In short, the best for someone like me “.
But is there an unforgettable match in your career?
“No, one in particular no. There are many beautiful ones: the derby victories with Bollate at the last inning, the IBL debut against San Marino, the playoffs against Reggio with United. I would say that in general I have enjoyed every moment of these twenty and more years ”.
The coach who gave you the most?
“Lots. I would definitely tell you the first coach I had in Malnate as a child, the one who taught me fundamentals. I don’t even remember his name anymore, his name was Enerio. Among those I had later I would say Bonetti, a fantastic character, but also Bortolomai who was my partner and then my manager. And then Dave Sheldon, who unfortunately I only had at the end of his career, and is a baseball book. And Bianchi, who was our batting coach for a couple of years, it was a pleasure just to listen to him… But I must say that I got along well with all the coaches, perhaps because everyone made me play… ”.
Your favorite field?
“I liked playing Bollate a lot, perhaps because I’ve always played good games there. But for us who have spent a lifetime on the smaller fields, going to play in Grosseto or Nettuno was a dream. I still remember the fantastic grass of Iannella “.
The trip?
“I’ve always seen travel as great fun. The important thing was to get on the bus, then that it went anywhere. Of course, we who have played a lot in A2 have had the opportunity to really play in many fields, we have even reached Ustica “.
Do we make the ideal team of your teammates?
“Milani catcher, Chiesa in first, Bortolomai in second and Silva shortstop or else he gets angry, Wong in third, obviously I in the center with Suardi on the left and Banfi on the right. Marzullo pitchers for the Italian match and Duarte as a foreigner. If there is a dh I’ll put Basilico, because I had time to play with him too ”.
What if I had to play the ideal Milan?
“I would put above all those I saw play: Milan have had many great pitchers in the past but among the recent ones I put Piazzi, even if I often beat him. And as a catcher Anedda, with whom I also played. As well as with Bacio and Spinosa who deserve a place. Then I would say Bianchi in first, Sheldon in third, Brusati in second, even if I don’t remember him as a player, like Allara outside, but everyone tells me they were very strong. And on the outside with Pierino I put two that I saw well instead: Ivan Guerci and Raoul Pasotto. Coach Mauro Mazzotti ”.
The stranger who impressed you the most?
“Luis Maza from Grosseto, impressive. But also certain pitchers like Ruzic and Sikaras of Rimini or Da Silva himself ”.
And among those you have played with?
“Omar Bencomo, a very strong pitcher. And then Conrado Silva, two fantastic hands: if he had kept himself physically he could have played for any team “.
The three symbolic characters of Italian baseball?
“Bagialemani, a friend and an idol. Bianchi, the printed book of the joke. Both with an international dimension, so much so that they were the only Italians to play the All Star Game that was organized after the World Cup. And then I would say Mazzotti, the most professional non-player we have had in Italy: he has left his mark wherever he has coached, even with Spain. And then there is an out of quota: Alex Liddi, the man of the turning point in our baseball, at the end of the day the only one who made it to the Major League “.
Do you support any team outside of baseball?
“As a child I was a Milan fan, then too many negative things took me away from football. In America, on the other hand, I support the Dodgers, he thinks Cameroni has infected me with this choice, and the Lakers “.
The sporting event that thrilled you the most?
“Generally all the Olympics, then the victory at the 2006 World Cup. But even the last baseball World Cup played in Italy excited me: I remember seeing the final in Nettuno with the stadium packed”.
So, Rea, one more year and then you dedicate yourself to Azzurra?
“I definitely take a break, but then I would like to continue to lend a hand. Many times I read that people complain because the great exes when they quit no longer help companies. I don’t consider myself great, but as an ex I would like to give back to baseball what baseball has given me ”.
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