Jerome Silletti, Mike "Meathooks" Mormile, Sebastian Zinna, Nick PicurroOver a year ago Sebastiano Zinna, a 1588 member, began talking with co-workers about organizing a softball team for longshoremen at Global. By the time this hits the press, he will have coordinated a six team fast-pitch league that’s looking to expand throughout the Port and maybe even up and down the East Coast.

”I figured we could all unite outside of work,” says Zinna. “It’s a way to bring everyone together and talk about stuff other than the job. Besides if we all gotta go on strike and stick together what better way to get started.” Zinna has named the team he manages “ZaZa's Gang” after his uncle's nickname Mikey ZaZa. His uncle Michael Zinna has been a longshoreman since 1969 and does not have a gang.

The first game took place earlier this summer with ZaZa’s Gang beating the Global Superintendent team 11-2. The 1588 leadership has pledged to support the Rank and File league with team T-shirts and a BBQ at the ball field. The other teams in the league include The Clockers, No Orders, Reefer Express, the Malloy Misfits, a checkers team and a Global superintendent team. There has also been talk of involving longshore workers from NYCT/Howland Hook.

”I want all the ILA Locals to have one tournament, a kind of Battle of the Piers. Then maybe we could go national and have tournament down in Miami or involve California longshoremen,” Zinna remarked when talking about future plans for the league. Roger Perez, whose team “No Orders” has been practicing, agreed, “We’d like to expand port-wide to build brotherhood.”

The next game will be at the 16h street ball fields in Bayonne on September 20th or 21st depending on ship orders. Call Sebastian at (347) 244-1601 for more information or reach out to the Local.