Long Island MSBL and World Series Veteran Bill Rattazzi Embraces a New Chapter in Arizona
By Steve LaMontia, Director of Communications
20-year MSBL World Series veteran and member of the Long Island MSBL since 1991, Bill Rattazzi, is looking forward to a new chapter this year as a member of the Long Island A’s in Arizona at the MSBL World Series as a member of their Father/Son division squad for the very first time.
“I have been waiting for a long time for my son, Ronan, to turn 16 so we could play together at the World Series,” explained the senior Rattazzi. “I have been managing and playing for the Long Island Rangers, and more recently the 3n2 Rangers, for many years in Arizona. I still play for the Rangers but they are now managed by Glenn Powers. It became too much of a time commitment so I now enjoy simply playing. This year will really be something special in a new division.”
To take this even a step further, he will be teammates with MSBL Founder and President Steve Sigler, his son Brian, and Steve’s grandson Wesley. They will also take the field together as three generations for the first time when they include Wes. Steve and Brian have played together for the A’s in past years.
“Ronan will be 17 when the tournament rolls around. We have the batting cage and mound set up in the backyard and workout together all year long. He is the traditional travel ball kid and pitches and plays second base. He works out with his high school team during the season, of course, and travels around playing during the summer but we share a lot of days in the cage during the off-season. He’s a junior now and we are trying to get him ready for the next level.”
When Bill began his adult baseball career in 1991, the Long Island league was a 30-over league but his Long Island Rangers have now progressed to the 55-over division.
“I still play center field and try my best to stay fit. Between playing and managing the team in Long Island, I stay pretty active.”
Bill works from home as Sales Director for Casino Parties, LLC. He spends most of his mornings dealing with business issues but is able to watch most of Ronan’s games, home and away.
“I am very fortunate to be able to basically travel with the team and watch him play. I am not a coach, just a proud papa.”
We published a piece about Bill during the pandemic and asked him what he was doing to stay in the game, mentally and physically. He mentioned that he and Ronan worked out a lot together, which was very beneficial to them both. Here is the comment that Bill closed with, which I must say is a comment I don’t completely buy into.
“It is my hope to return again in two years when my son is 16 so that we can play together in the Father/Son Division of the World Series. That will be a perfect ending to my 30+ years in the MSBL.”
Naw…I’m not buying it, Bill. It is just the ‘beginning’ of your Father/Son World Series chapter, not the end. You two will be back.
