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
Nov 22, 2024Choose Lompoc on California’s Central Coast for Outdoor-Focused Fun
If you’re in weather denial mode and resisting the urge to switch your closet over to sweaters and snow boots, keep summer going for a little longer in Lompoc, California.
Sponsored Content
Discover the Pristine Beauty of the Sporades Islands
Nestled in the northwest Aegean Sea, the Sporades Islands are a hidden gem of Greece, offering breathtaking natural beauty and unique experiences for every traveler. Comprised of four main islands — Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos and Skyros — this island cluster is renowned for its lush pine forests, crystal-clear waters and idyllic beaches.
Daily
Nov 22, 2024Try This New Sea-to-Table Experience at Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, the oceanfront property on the pristine coast of Mexico’s Riviera Nayarit, just launched a new Sea to Table program in partnership with SpearMex, the region’s premier sea exploration experts. The new programming features a hands-on experience and ocean-to-table culinary journey combining sustainable fishing practices with personalized gastronomic techniques lead by Executive Chef Jorge González.
Daily
Nov 22, 2024Waldorf Astoria Residences New York Announces Partnership with Bang & Olufsen
Waldorf Astoria Residences New York recently announced a partnership with Bang & Olufsen. The contemporary residences sit atop the legendary hotel, currently nearing the end of its expansive restoration.
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
Nov 21, 2024Hotel Saint Augustine to Open in Houston’s Museum District Neighborhood
Hotel Saint Augustine, expected to softly open in Houston this December, is a design-savvy boutique hotel from Austin-based hospitality group Bunkhouse. The hotel will officially debut January 2025.
5 Can’t-Miss Black Friday, Cyber Monday Hotel Deals
Daily
Nov 21, 2024eFlyer Reviews
Nov 20, 2024Château des Fleurs Review
Just a short block from the Champs Elysées, flower-bedecked window boxes grace the corner and clearly identify Château des Fleurs. This 37-room boutique hotel is one of Vivre-LMB’s five small hotels in Paris owned by Olivier Bertrand and his sisters and affiliated with Small Luxury Hotels of the World.
Sponsored Content
Extraordinary Egypt
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS
eFlyer Deals
Nov 20, 20242 Miami Hotels Go Big for Black Friday, Cyber Monday
Two Miami hotels entice travelers this season to take advantage of some special offers. Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club, Autograph Collection, in the heart of Mid-Beach, offers up to 40 percent off the best available rate when booked by Dec. 30 for stays through Dec. 30, 2025. Book this offer.
ShareThis