Tollo Mayor Angelo Radica will sign the official Sister City agreement with Fullerton, California on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 11 am in honor of Tommy Lasorda and his parents, Sabatino and Carmella Lasorda. Lasorda’s father, Sabatino Lasorda was an Italian immigrant hailing from Tollo (Chieti) in Abruzzo. He came to the United States and raised Tommy Lasorda along with his four brothers.
The late and great Tommy Lasorda, the Hall of Famer who managed the Los Angeles Dodgers for 20 seasons and led them to two World Series titles, will be represented by his daughter Laura Lasorda in her grandparents' birthplace of Tollo during the weekend celebration.
Festivities begin on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 9 pm when the screening of the Russo Brothers National Italian American Foundation Film Forum Award-winning Italian American Baseball Family (featuring Tommy Lasorda) with Italian subtitles will take place at the 'Scalinata Ado Guido Di Mauro' in Piazza della Liberazione (or in case of bad weather at Enomuseo).
The official Tommy Lasorda commemorative stamp will be revealed at the Tollo post office at the new baseball/softball facility at 3 pm, when speeches from the Tollo Mayor Angelo Radica, FIBS President Andrea Marcon and Laura Lasorda are expected. In addition, there will be a tree-planting ceremony to commemorate the newly-signed Sister City relationship with Fullerton, California. Fullterton planted an Italian olive tree in honor of its Sister City friendship with Tollo during its Tommy Lasorda Day celebration on September 22, 2021.
First pitch for the inaugural U13 baseball game between Tollo and Roma Brewers at the new Tommy Lasorda field is set for 4 pm and a celebratory dinner is on tap for 9 pm. Long live the Lasorda family legacy internationally... Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
