Peter Jude Zoccolillo (born February 6, 1977) is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played part of the 2003 season in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Pete Zoccolillo
Outfielder
Born: (1977-02-06) February 6, 1977 (age 47)
Bronx, New York
Batted: Left
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 5, 2003, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Last MLB appearance
September 28, 2003, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Batting average.108
Hits4
Runs batted in3
Teams

Career edit

He played college baseball at Rutgers University where he was three times All-Big East First Team.[1] He graduated with a degree in communications and a minor in psychology. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 23rd round of the 1999 amateur draft.[2] At the trade deadline in 2001, the Cubs traded him and Rubén Quevedo to the Brewers for David Weathers and a minor leaguer.[3]

Zoccolillo made his Major League debut on September 5, 2003 at Miller Park.[4][5] He recorded his first Major League hit on September 9 against Tim Redding of the Houston Astros.[6][7] Following the season, the Texas Rangers selected him from the Brewers in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.[2][4]

After spending the 2005 season in the minors with the St. Louis Cardinals,[8] he signed a contract with the Colorado Rockies. After playing with Italy at the 2006 World Baseball Classic, however, he decided to retire from professional baseball.[9]

Personal life edit

Zoccolillo's father, Al, coached the Iona Gaels baseball team. His mother, Terry, was a teacher. He met his wife, Denise, before his final year at Rutgers.[2]

In 2011, he was living in Randolph, New Jersey, working as a salesman for Enzo Clinical Labs and coaching youth baseball.[10] In 2021, he was living in Mount Olive Township, New Jersey and was hired to coach the baseball team at Mount Olive High School.

References edit

  1. ^ "Three Baseball Players Earn All-BIG EAST First Team Honors". Notre Dame Fighting Irish. 21 June 1999. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Hersom, Bob (26 June 2004). "Last in line no more: RedHawks outfielder Zoccolillo stepping out of obscurity". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  3. ^ "Yankees, Twins, Giants deal". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Associated Press. 31 July 2001. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Peter Zoccolillo Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, September 5, 2003". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Peter Zoccolillo 2003 Batting Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  7. ^ "Houston Astros at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, September 9, 2003". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  8. ^ "Peter Zoccolillo Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Zoccolillo finds new challenge as Morris Catholic coach". USA Today. 5 August 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  10. ^ Cohen, Michael (25 April 2011). "Ex-Bayonne resident Pete Zoccolillo translates MLB experience to helping kids". The Jersey Journal. NJ.com. Retrieved 29 December 2020.

External links edit