John Noce, one of the most respected Italian-American coaches in college baseball history, was recently awarded the prestigious Wilson Lefty Gomez Award, an annual award presented to an individual who has contributed significantly to the game of baseball locally, nationally and internationally. Another friend of Italian baseball, Ron Maestri, received the Wilson Lefty Gomez Award in 2022.
An ABCA member for 55 years, John Noce arrived in Italy for the first time in the 1970s when he served as a baseball coach in Parma and later in Novara. FIBS entrusted him to become a staple on the Team Italy baseball coaching staff from 1977 to 1996. Having been inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame, the College of San Mateo Athletic Hall of Fame, the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame and San Mateo County Hall of Fame, John Noce is nothing short of a living legend.
He led the College of San Mateo baseball program from 1962-1992. In 31 seasons, his teams compiled a record of 772-412 (.652) while capturing 13 conference titles and finishing runner-up three times in the California community college state playoffs. At the time of his retirement, the much-respected coach had won the most wins in California community college baseball history. John Noce had 72 former players go on to play professional baseball, including eight making it to MLB. In addition, more than 200 of his College of San Mateo Bulldogs went on to compete at four-year institutions.
Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti