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Welcome to Rocco World, Rhode Island

WOONSOCKET, R.I. - In the nation's smallest state, so tiny it could fit between Tampa and Orlando, native son Rocco Baldelli is a big, big deal.

"This is not a state, it's really like a city-state," said Paul Danesi, vice president at Warwick's private Bishop Hendricken High School. "And everyone in Rhode Island has taken ownership. Everyone in Rhode Island is enjoying Rocco's success."

Rhode Island newspapers can't write enough Rocco stories. TV stations can't show enough highlights. Stores can't stock enough baseball cards and merchandise.

So many people stop by his father Dan's shop to talk about the kid or ask for something that there are days it's hard to get any work done. So many media outlets want childhood photos that his mom keeps her favorites handy. So many people placed orders for merchandise through his charitable Web site that his family had to turn over operation to the school.

"It's pretty amazing. There's phenomenal local interest," said Gary Lawrence, publisher of the Woonsocket Call newspaper.

"It's like in Memphis, how everyone has an Elvis story. Here, everyone has a Rocco story."

Dan Baldelli hears a lot of them at his business on Bernon Street, the combination Hava Java coffee/ABEL check-cashing/Mr. Pawn shop that seems to serve as the unofficial town hall for this city of about 43,000. People come and go all day, asking Dan - or Rocky as almost every local calls him - about Rocco, or telling him what they think or how they're going to go see him play.

Dan came up with the idea a couple years ago for the Rocco Baldelli Foundation, an opportunity to raise money for a scholarship at Bishop Hendricken by selling autographed merchandise through roccobaldelli.com, thinking there might be a little interest.

He was wrong. With talk of Rocco making the jump to the big leagues, there was so much demand for signed photos ($35-50), balls ($40) and bats ($90), Dan couldn't keep up with the orders. He called Danesi in March and said if the school was going to benefit, he would have to take it over.

Danesi was staggered by the steady flow of orders, three or four a day every day. "I called him back and said, "You son of a b--.' He was laughing at me," Danesi said. "I said, "Why didn't you tell me?' He said, "You wouldn't have taken it.' "

The hundreds of items Rocco signed over the winter were gone quickly. As of Friday, they had orders, from all over the country and Japan, for another 300 items, which they won't be able to fill until after the season. Better, they had nearly $14,000 in the scholarship fund, just about enough to cover the $7,000-a-year tuition for two kids.

At baseball card and sports memorabilia shops throughout the state, Baldelli merchandise, especially his latest cards, are scarce, or impossible, to find. Some store owners laugh when asked if they have any Baldelli stuff.

"I can't keep it if I get it," said John Merrill, owner of the Pitcher's Mound store in Warwick. "He's hot - the local boy done good."

At Pawtucket's McCoy Stadium, home of Boston's Triple-A team, the Red Sox clearly rule in the large stadium store and souvenir stands, and there are a few items from some Yankee greats. The only piece of player merchandise in the stadium - the same place where they still talk about the ball Baldelli hit out of the ballpark in a high school state championship game - is the $25 Baldelli photo plaque they decided to stock because so many people kept asking.

At the Custom Plaques II kiosk in the trendy Providence Place mall, the selection of $4.95 photo key chains includes some of the biggest names in sports, so popular they can just about all go by one name: Nomar, Manny and Pedro; Jeter and Giambi; Kobe; Iverson; and (Tom) Brady. They too had to cater to demand and add a new name: Rocco.

The state newspapers also have tried to deliver.

The Call, a 14,000-circulation daily headquartered a long home run from Dan Baldelli's shop, basically went to an all-Rocco, all-the-time format.

It featured him on the cards that go on their newspaper racks - and seems to be constantly replacing "missing" ones. It has done two full-page Rocco posters and is running a contest for a limo ride, food and tickets to see the Rays in Boston this month.

The most popular feature is The Rocco Baldelli File, a box that runs every day in the sports section, updating his stats and accomplishments. Once the idea was hatched, Lawrence said a local business agreed to be the sponsor - before a price had even been determined. Now two radio stations have co-opted the report and read it on the air each morning.

The larger Providence Journal, with 10 times the circulation, also has been heavily interested, doing weekly updates during spring training and twice-monthly stories.

"It's such a big deal because Rhode Island hasn't had such a prominent player in the major leagues for so long," veteran Journal baseball writer Steve Krasner said.

"It really has been a big story," said Wayne M. Stewart, the Call's managing editor. "People care."

1. He has horrible eyesight - about 20-100 - and wears soft contacts to play and glasses at other times.

2. He used to be a switch-hitter. Up until he broke his leg at age 14 and left the game for a few years, he hit left-handed and right-handed.

3. He didn't get his driver's license until he was 18. Too busy with sports and school to learn.

4. He eats a ton. "Oh my God, he's incredible," says friend Minh Pham. "He'll go out to eat and order a steak and pasta and on the way home stop to get ice cream and wings."

5. He is a walking calamity, having broken his right hand three times, his left hand once, his right leg once and having had mono, viral meningitis and Lyme's disease.

Madonna's soon-to-be 3-year-old son with filmmaker Guy Ritchie.

Pro golfer with five victories on the PGA Tour.

Popular European male porn star, winner of 2003 Adult Video News award.

Raleigh, N.C.-based high-energy rock-and-roll band.

Bass guitar player for Tower of Power, considered innovator of "Fingerstyle Funk."

Chairman of a London-based luxury hotel chain bearing his name.

Patron saint against pestilence, the plague and all infectious diseases.

Six-time All-Star slugging outfielder was known as Rocky.

N.Y. chef featured in new NBC reality show The Restaurant, based on life at Rocco's.

Original name of legendary boxer Rocky Marciano, who often fought in Providence, R.I.

- MARC TOPKIN, SMITHA BALLAL