25 years of Saladino

By Times staff writers
Published March 19, 2005

TAMPA - In the 25 years of the Saladino Baseball Tournament, history has been documented in so many ways one could make a list of how it has been documented.

In Sports Illustrated. In Florida Sports magazine. In the St. Petersburg Times and just about every other newspaper at one point or another around the state.

Twenty-five years.

It's a lot to take in.

For every 100 stories you have heard, there's 100 more.

To get a taste for this year (reference to Bertha Saladino's annual daily feasts intended), here's a little history, garnished with some highlights and sprinkled with some outlook.

YEAR ESTABLISHED: 1981.

WHY IT STARTED: The tourney was created as a memorial for Tony Saladino Sr. and to promote high school baseball in Hillsborough County.

TEAMS: The event began with 11 public schools, but now includes 24 teams, public and private.

EVENT SITE: The first event was held at Brandon. King hosted it several years. Today, games are played at the University of Tampa, Brandon, Gaither, Jesuit and Middleton.

FIRST PITCH: The inaugural Saladino Tournament began at 10 a.m., April 13, 1981.

BACK IN THE DAY: Dwight Gooden of Hillsborough, later a major-league star, was the first Saladino MVP.

MOVING ON: According to organizers, 32 players who participated in the tournament have gone on to play in the majors - 12 were first-round draft picks. Many others have played in college and/or the minor leagues.

TRADITION: Each year, special events are scheduled to recognize and honor individuals or teams. One such tradition is the ceremonial first pitch, which takes place before each game played at the University of Tampa.

CELEBRATING THE PAST: The Saladino hosts an annual private old-timers day luncheon for the county's baseball pioneers. It draws, among others, former major leaguers, Negro leaguers, minor leaguers, intersocial leaguers, municipal leaguers, Orange Belt leaguers, metro leaguers and cigar factory leaguers.

Compiled by Times staff writers Scott Purks and Keith Niebuhr.

[Last modified March 19, 2005, 01:01:18]