Former Zanesville Greys coach dies

The Zanesville Times Recorder
Originally published February 4, 2008

WESTERVILLE - Tom Venditelli, a former major league baseball player and the first manager of the Frontier League's Zanesville Greys ball club, died Friday at his home. He was 77.

Tom had a 10 year Pro Baseball Career with the New York Yankees and Kansas City organizations and went on to coach for 35 years, with Newark Catholic High School, Denison University and Columbus State Community College where he also served as the athletic recruiting coordinator.

He managed the Zanesville Greys in the Frontier League during the 1993-1994 seasons and was selected "Manager of the Year" in 1993 guiding the Greys to the inaugural league title. He resigned after the 1994 season as the Greys finished third in the standings.

He was a Sales Representative and Agency Manager with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in Newark, where he was befriended by Angelo Kallipolitis of Zanesville.
"I've known him all of my life," Kallipolitis said, after he learned of Venditelli's death this weekend. "I've known him 51 years. We started working together at Metropolitan in 1957."

Kallipolitis recalled how Venditelli was one step away from making it to the major leagues with the New York Yankees.

"He got called up with Bobby Richardson, then they kept Richardson and sent Tom down," Kallipolitis said.

Born in Providence, RI and a graduate of LaSalle Academy in Providence, Venditelli was also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in the Korean Conflict.

He was also a scouting assistant for the Pittsburgh Pirates for over 40 years. He was a lifetime member of the Professional Baseball Players of America and lifetime member of the American Baseball Coaches Association. Tom was also inducted into the OHSAA Basketball officials "Hall of Fame" in 2003.

Calling hours will be 2-8 p.m. Monday at Moreland Funeral Home, 55 East Schrock Road, Westerville. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008 at St. Paul the Apostle Church, 313 N. State St., Westerville. A prayer service will be held at 2 p.m.

Contributions in Tom's memory can be made to the Denison University Baseball Scholarship Fund.