Sports

Gimme 5: Ex-Sox Sparkplug Cangelosi Still Keeping Elite Company

John Cangelosi runs an elite baseball program, while his son, Austin, is an up-and-comer at Sandburg.

John Cangelosi's major league baseball career ended in 1999, but he still has a lot of memories to share, including winning the World Series with the Florida Marlins in 1997.

Cangelosi grew up in Miami after being born in Brooklyn, so to win the World Series just a few miles from where he was raised was the thrill of a lifetime.

Cangelosi made his major league debut with the White Sox in 1985 and was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1987 season. He spent the bulk of his career in Pittsburgh, but had stints in Florida and Colorado. 

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In 1986, Cangelosi broke the American League single-season rookie record for stolen bases with 51--76 years after the record first was set. It was broken the next year by Kenny Lofton, but still stands as a White Sox rookie record.

He worked as a player-coach in the Rockies farm system and also spent four years in the Cubs farm system as a coach. Cangelosi currently runs an elite baseball program in Lockport at the Bo Jackson Elite Sports Dome.

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His son, Austin, is on the varsity baseball team at Sandburg High School. The unique father-son baseball relationship the two share comes across on a trip to the "Bo-Dome."


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