Fontanetti’s were a collegiate summer baseball team located in San Jose, California, founded in 1965, as a successor to previous teams managed by Jerry Fontanetti in the 1950s.[2] Founder Jerry Fontanetti was the owner of Fontanetti’s Batting Cages, which operated in San Jose from 1953 until 2016. [3]
| Fontanetti’s Athletics | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| League | Independent (Northern California) |
| Location | San Jose, California |
| Founded | 1965[1] |
| California State Semi-Pro championships | 1978 |
| Former name(s) | Fontanetti A’s, Fontanetti’s of San Jose, San Jose Fontanettis, Fontanetti Sporting Goods of San Jose |
| Former league(s) | Far West League (2011-2013) Western Baseball Association (1983-97) |
| Colors | Navy Blue, Powder Blue, and White |
| Ownership | Jerry Fontanetti |
The team was first called Fontanetti’s of San Jose, named for owner Jerry Fontanetti’s San Jose batting cages.[4][5]
Fontanetti’s was a powerhouse semi-pro baseball team in Northern California with prominent rivals included other perennial winners such as the Humboldt Crabs. [6][7][8]
In the 1970s, at the height of the rival Humboldt Crabs, Fontanetti’s were California State Semi-Pro runners up in 1976 and 1977 losing to the Crabs before beating the Crabs and winning the 1978 California State Championship. With the win, Fontanetti’s broke the Crabs’ streak of 15 straight California State Semi-Pro Championships and represented California at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita.[9] Fontanetti's also made multiple appearances in the AABC Stan Musial World Series.
After more than 50 seasons, the Fontanetti’s A’s played their final season in 2014, the year before Fontanetti’s Batting Cages closed in 2016.[3]
Notable alumni
edit- Frank Johnson (1976-1979)
- Rich Bordi (1978)
- Ron Mingo, World's Fastest Typist[10] (1981-1999)
References
edit- ^ "Far West Lg. prospect reports". Perfect Game. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
- ^ Caldwell, Stan (June 18, 1958). "Crab's to Host San Jose All-Stars This Weekend". Eureka Humboldt Standard. (California). p. 11.
- ^ a b "Fontanetti's Batting Cages in San Jose to Close Down After 53 Years in Business". NBC Bay Area. 2016-08-30. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Crabs to host San Jose Friday". The Times-Standard. (California). June 23, 1977. p. 17.
- ^ "Crabs, San Jose to open series in Eureka tonight". The Times-Standard. (California). June 16, 1973. p. 9.
- ^ Squier, Dan (2006-07-09). "It's always a fun time with Fontanetti's A's in town". Times-Standard. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Long-time rival in town: Crabs set to host Fontanetti Athletics for 3-game set". Times-Standard. 2008-06-13. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Humboldt Crabs". Northern California Baseball History. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
- ^ "National Baseball Congress". Northern California Baseball History. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
- ^ Miller, Sam (2013-03-06). "BP Unfiltered: The World's Fastest Typist and A Half-Century of Baseball". Baseball Prospectus. Retrieved 10 February 2021.