As Major League Baseball’s playoff season heats up, today I’m talking travel with Frank Catalanotto, head baseball coach at Hofstra University. Catalanotto also played 14 seasons in MLB.
A native of Smithtown, New York, Catalanotto was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 1992 amateur draft. He made his MLB debut in 1997 with the Tigers. He also played with the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Milwaukee Brewers and his home state New York Mets before retiring after the 2010 season. For his career, Catalanotto hit .291 while playing several positions. He also won the Player of the Week Award twice.
In 2012 he published Heart & Hustle, his autobiography. It’s a book about perseverance, spirit and support as much as it is about baseball. It’s one of the most impactful autobiographies I have ever read.
His coaching career started at the New York Institute of Technology in 2019–2020. He took the helm at Hofstra in 2022.
Early in his career his daughter was born with a hemangioma, a vascular birthmark, made of extra blood vessels in the skin. A staffer with the Rangers led the family to Dr. Linda Rozell-Shannon, Ph.D., president and founder of the Vascular Birthmark Foundation. Daughter Morgan underwent two operations but is doing great now in her 20s. The Frank Catalanotto Foundation was formed to honor Morgan and raise funds and awareness for VBF.
Catalanotto discussed all of this in our interview. As talk turned to travel, he discussed his travels as a player and now aa coach. He talked about the difference in planning and organization. Having played games in every MLB city and overseas, Catalanotto discussed his favorite spots, seeking restaurants and more, including his travel tip, of course.
The Hofstra Pride finished the 2023 season with a 26–26 record in the tough Colonial Athletic Association. The season is over, but Catalanotto’s work continues as the team prepares for the 2024 season. Catalanotto finished by giving a quick scouting report on the 2024 Pride.
Talking Travel is an interview series on Global Traveler. Subscribe to the GT YouTube channel to be notified of all future interviews and other travel-related videos.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
Read This Next
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Dec 13, 2024The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota Launches Holiday Programming
The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota invites travelers to experience the magic of the holiday season with a full lineup of festive programming.
Sponsored Content
Extraordinary Egypt
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS
Daily
Dec 13, 2024Rediscover Bambu Indah: Transformative Luxury and Green Beauty in Ubud’s Agrarian Riverside
Bambu Indah is a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel high on the Sayan Ridge, 15 minutes from the town of Ubud on the island of Bali in Indonesia. Surrounded by rice paddies, nestled among jungle trees and situated along the great Ayung River, Bambu Indah is an authentic nature sanctuary.
Daily
Dec 13, 2024Taste Your Way Through Japan with These Unique Experiences
Ever wanted to embark on an udon-tasting journey around one of Japan’s prefectures? How about a soy-sauce tasting on an island? Up your trip to Japan with these unique, culinary-inspired experiences, sure to leave you with a full belly and some good stories.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines First to Purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel for ORD
Chicago O’Hare International Airport will soon receive sustainable aviation fuel, all thanks to United Airlines, which became the first airline to purchase SAF for use at the airport, one of the largest in the United States. Neste, a producer of SAF, will provide up to 1 million gallons of its Neste MY Sustainable Aviation Fuel. The first supply arrived in August.
Daily
Dec 12, 2024Indulge in Holiday Decadence at London’s St. James’s Hotel & Club, an Althoff Collection Hotel
The elegant, 5-star St. James’s Hotel & Club, an Althoff Collection Hotel, rolls out the Yule Tide welcome log this season with holiday treats that include special menus, caroling, a Festive Afternoon Tea, and views from its roof gardens and private suite terraces of New Year’s Eve fireworks bursting over the city. Decorated Christmas trees and baskets of clementines adorn guestrooms and suites, and this year’s Nutcracker theme will be evident in tree ornaments, banister decorations and red-and-green nutcracker figurines greeting guests as they arrive at the hotel.
6 Raffles Hotels & Resorts for Holiday Experiences
Daily
Dec 12, 2024Orient Express Announces First-Ever Hotel
Daily
Dec 12, 2024Canne Bianche Lifestyle & Hotel Review
eFlyer Reviews
Dec 11, 2024eFlyer News
Dec 11, 2024Air France & KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Partner with Kolet for Mobile Connectivity
Air France and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines announced a new partnership with Kolet, a French eSIM technology specialist, to offer reliable mobile connectivity in more than 190 countries.
Sponsored Content
Experience Next-Level Travel with Condor Airlines’ New A330neo Fleet
Condor Airlines completely renewed its long-haul fleet, featuring its new Airbus A330neo. Designed to elevate your travel experience, the A330neo is equipped with cutting-edge technology and offers unrivaled comfort, ensuring an exceptional journey for every passenger. With its striking signature striped livery, the A330neo not only promises a memorable flight but also enhances the start of your vacation from the moment you step aboard.
eFlyer News
Dec 11, 2024Viking Names and Delivers Newest Ship in Italy
It’s been a month to remember for Viking, with the luxury cruise line announcing the name and delivery of its newest ocean ship, Viking Vela. The new boat joins Viking’s growing fleet of award-winning ocean ships and will spend her inaugural season sailing in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
ShareThis