Wikipedia - Fortitudo Baseball Bologna
Fortitudo Baseball 1953, commonly referred to as Fortitudo Bologna, also known as Longbridge 2000 Bologna or UnipolSai Bologna for sponsorship reasons, is a baseball club based in Bologna that competes in Serie A1, Italy's professional baseball league.
The team plays at Gianni Falchi Stadium and has won 13 national championships and 6 European Cups.
History
The club was founded in 1953 when the Società Ginnastica Fortitudo (Fortitudo Gimnastics Society) established its baseball section. In 1963, the team merges with ACLI Labor from the baseball Serie A and joins the top level of Italian baseball. That same year, the baseball section becomes autonomous under the presidency of Pietro Leoni and with Jimmy Strong as manager.
Fortitudo Baseball has won thirteen Italian championships in 1969, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1984, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2020, and the European Championship six times (1973, 1985, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2019).
In 2013, Fortitudo was the first European team to be invited to participate in the Asia Series, placing sixth overall after losing to Samsung Lions (5–2) and Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions (10–0).
In 2019, Fortitudo hosted and won the 2019 European Champions Cup, defeating Amsterdam Pirates in the final.
Sponsors
- 1969–1975: Amaro Montenegro
- 1975–1976: Grappa Canonier
- 1979–1980: Biemme Giocattoli
- 1982: Del Monte
- 1983: Nordmende
- 1984–1985: Be. Ca. Carni
- 1986–1987: Biemme Giocattoli
- 1988–1989: Caffè Meseta
- 1990–1991: Poliedil
- 1992: Eurobuilding
- 1993: Gaudianello
- 1995–2008: Italeri
- 2009–present Unipol
U. Bologna boasts a talented roster of players, many of whom have represented Italy on the national team. The team is known for its strong pitching staff, solid defense, and potent offense, making them a formidable opponent for any team they face.
The team plays its home games at Stadio Gianni Falchi, a state-of-the-art baseball stadium located in Bologna. The stadium is known for its passionate fan base, who come out in droves to support the team and create an electric atmosphere on game days.
U. Bologna is a proud ambassador for Italian baseball, showcasing the talent and passion for the sport that exists in the country. With a rich history of success and a bright future ahead, U. Bologna is a team to watch in the world of baseball.