Welcome to La Gazzetta Italiana

It ’ s finally springtime and I give global warming a B for a “ not so bad ” winter . The April showers and warming temperatures that bring May flowers melted what little snow was left and the grass has turned from its grainy and ivory / brown color to what I choose to call a spectacular Irish green . That means weed and grass cutting time , but that beats cold temperatures and shoveling snow .

Springtime also means gardening and I have to decide what seeds and vegetable plants will dominate my home garden . Naturally I do my tomatoes ( Beefsteak , Roma and San Marzano ), some Kentucky Wonder green beans , my tasty summer / fall Swiss Chard with ivory-like stalks , some Black Magic Zucchini , and a couple of those Sicilian zucchini ( the kind where the vines climb up nearby trees and are long enough to hide the dangling baseball bat ).

But springtime is more than cutting grass , raising gardens and chasing off deer , it ’ s also a time to take in the joys of major league baseball . I go as far back as League Park when Hal Trosky (# 7 ) used to hit line drives over the right field fence onto Lexington Ave . If anyone retrieved the ball those days , they got a free ticket to a game , just like we got for perfect school attendance . In the passing years , switching over to what was the mostly empty lakefront Municipal Stadium , I cheered on Tribe greats like Rapid Robert Feller , Bob Lemon , Mike Garcia , and Early Wynn . No one counted their pitches up to 100 and brought in relievers , Mossi or Narleski . They pitched against real superstars who , if they were playing today , the owners wouldn ’ t have enough money to pay them . In today ’ s dollars , I wonder what the paychecks would be for the likes of “ Jolting Joe ” DiMaggio of the New York Yankees , “ Splendid Splinter ” Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox , “ Hammering ” Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers , Stan “ The Man ” Musial of the St . Louis Cards , and , of course , Tribe Hall of Famer Bob Feller .

Springtime is the perfect time to start with an entirely fresh outlook on life . Be thankful to take in the fresh air , warmer temperatures , weeding and cutting the grass , and recalling memories and enjoying a ballgame . See ! It ’ s great to be alive even if it ’ s the bottom of the seventh of our lifetime !

Paul Sciria , Managing Editor

Take out a subscription to La Gazzetta Italiana ! It ' s a great gift idea ... Sign up today at www . LaGazzettaItaliana . com .... Share with family and friends !

Jennifer Spitalieri Ben Lariccia Serena Scaiola Anne Robichaud

www . LaGazzettaItaliana . com Computer Tablet

Margie Miklas Prof . Philip DiNovo Ilaria Massacesi

Smart Phone

LA GAZZETTA ITALIANA | APRIL 20163