Kids & Family
N. Babylon's Mike Filippone Making Another Batting World Record Attempt
Filippone wants to raise $10,000 during attempt Saturday for memorial fund in honor of a friend killed by a drunken driver.
Mike Filippone is training hard for a third attempt to set a continuous batting record. He is seen here training at CKO Kickboxing in Copiague. Video courtesy of Linda Gambardella
After swinging a bat for 19 hours straight last year in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record, North Babylon's Mike Filippone told Newsday that after two attempts to reach the 24-hour threshold for the continuous batting record, he was calling it quits on chasing the record.
Fast forward eight months and Filippone, the president of the North Babylon Youth League, is going back on his word and for a good cause. Filippone will shoot for the record once again starting at 8 a.m. Saturday at Phelps Lane Park in North Babylon.
"This year Mike is committed to going all the way and batting for 24 hours straight," Linda Gambardella told Patch, adding that Filippone has been training three times a week at CKO Kickboxing in Copiague.
Gambardella's husband and Filippone's friend, Dan Gambardella, of North Babylon, was killed by a drunken driver on the Wantagh State Parkway while on his way to work in April 2011. All monies raised during the Saturday's world record attempt event to the Dan Gambardella Memorial Fund, which Linda Gambardella said she created to honor her husband while helping local families in crisis and supporting a true sense of community.
Filippone lasted 15 and a half hours batting during his first attempt at the record in 2009 and 19 hours last September at the age of 52, raising more than $5,000 for the memorial fund and other causes.
Filippone has set a goal of raising $10,000 this year and the Dan Gambardella Memorial Fund and North Babylon Youth League are asking for the public's help to reach that goal.
"Baseball players of all ages and abilities are invited to come down to Phelps Lane to help Mike," according to a press release. "We need volunteers to help pitch to Mike and to field the balls. Spectators are encouraged to come down and cheer Mike on. Mike needs the excitement and inspiration of the 'fans' to keep him going. So, please come down and support him."
After swinging a bat for 19 hours straight last year in an attempt to set a Guinness World Record, North Babylon's Mike Filippone told Newsday that after two attempts to reach the 24-hour threshold for the continuous batting record, he was calling it quits on chasing the record.
Fast forward eight months and Filippone, the president of the North Babylon Youth League, is going back on his word and for a good cause. Filippone will shoot for the record once again starting at 8 a.m. Saturday at Phelps Lane Park in North Babylon.
"This year Mike is committed to going all the way and batting for 24 hours straight," Linda Gambardella told Patch, adding that Filippone has been training three times a week at CKO Kickboxing in Copiague.
Gambardella's husband and Filippone's friend, Dan Gambardella, of North Babylon, was killed by a drunken driver on the Wantagh State Parkway while on his way to work in April 2011. All monies raised during the Saturday's world record attempt event to the Dan Gambardella Memorial Fund, which Linda Gambardella said she created to honor her husband while helping local families in crisis and supporting a true sense of community.
Filippone lasted 15 and a half hours batting during his first attempt at the record in 2009 and 19 hours last September at the age of 52, raising more than $5,000 for the memorial fund and other causes.
Filippone has set a goal of raising $10,000 this year and the Dan Gambardella Memorial Fund and North Babylon Youth League are asking for the public's help to reach that goal.
"Baseball players of all ages and abilities are invited to come down to Phelps Lane to help Mike," according to a press release. "We need volunteers to help pitch to Mike and to field the balls. Spectators are encouraged to come down and cheer Mike on. Mike needs the excitement and inspiration of the 'fans' to keep him going. So, please come down and support him."
For more information or to register yourself or a team to help on the field, call Brigit Trentalange at 631-987-7449.
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