World Baseball Network (WorldBaseball.com) is classified as a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) and a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). World Baseball Network (WBN) is building the largest and most diverse ecosystem for baseball fans, leagues, teams, players, and sponsors looking to connect with them. Founded in 2022 by baseball visionary and chief correspondent Matthew Tallarini, WBN identifies innovation areas revolutionizing baseball globally, including Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball, NCAA, Korea, Japan, the Caribbean, WBC, and WBSC. “Baseball Without Borders” coverage focuses on the fastest-growing areas of the sport: new international markets and leagues. WBN deploys an Omni-media strategy encompassing 360 degrees of modern baseball fandom and engagement, utilizing the website, mobile, app, podcast, video syndication, social media, agency services, and custom media components, including video games and virtual environments. Follow the World Baseball Network at WorldBaseball.com on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter/X.
Matthew (Matt) Tallarini is the Founder and Chief Correspondent for the World Baseball Network. Matt played semi-professional baseball with the Pelham Mets in Pelham, New York for four years, including the 2018 Semi Pro World Series. During the pandemic, Matt began engaging with international baseball, as a way to keep connected to the sport. Matt created the World Baseball Network and its signature website, WorldBaseball.com as a way to promote and inform similar likeminded fans about the players, teams and leagues innovating the sport of baseball and feeding into Major League Baseball (MLB). As a result of Matt’s efforts, World Baseball Network is now the benchmark standard for international baseball coverage, including MLB, MiLB, NCAA, Korea, Japan, Caribbean, Baseball United, WBC, WBSC and more.
In a short time, Matt has interviewed a who’s who of global baseball legends and coaches. These include: Former Yankee closer Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera; Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman; former Yankee Luis Sojo veteran of four Yankee World series teams; Mickey Callaway former MLB manager; Paul Mainieri LSU National Championship coach; Eric Holtz manager Team Israel of the 2020 Olympics; Ian Kinsler former MLB player and now Israel national team player; Harold Ramirez of the Tampa Bay Rays formerly with the Indians and Cubs; Joey Meneses of the Washington Nationals; and Mike Cameron current USA Baseball advisor former-MLB outfielder.
Matt Tallarini is 2015 graduate of Mitchell College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and a 2022 graduate of Iona University with a Masters in Finance. Since its inception, Matt has been the Chief Correspondent for World Baseball Network. Matt has interviewed and interacted with many international players and coaches including former Yankee closer Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera, Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman, former Yankee Luis Sojo veteran of four Yankee World series teams, Mickey Callaway former MLB manager, Paul Mainieri LSU National Championship coach, Eric Holtz manager Team Israel of the 2020 Olympics, Ian Kinsler former MLB player and now Israel national team player, Harold Ramirez of the Tampa Bay Rays formerly with the Indians and Cubs, Joey Meneses of the Washington Nationals, Mike Cameron current USA Baseball advisor former-MLB outfielder. Matthew is 2015 graduate of Mitchell College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science and a 2022 graduate of Iona University with a Masters in Finance.
Phone: 800-416-6123 x800
Email: mt@worldbaseball.com
Josh Gelhaus is a lifelong accounting executive. He has extensive experience in financial management, presentation, and accounting. Josh earned his BA degree in Economic Management from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2000 where he was also a member of the baseball team. He started his career with Bank One in their Management Development Program and is currently a small business owner.
Phone: 800-416-6123 x806
Email: jgelhaus@worldbaseball.com
Bill Ketcham is a Senior Media Advisor to World Baseball Network. Ketcham is an expert marketer, having worked with the world’s largest brands, including via sports alignment.
Bill is the President of W. Ketcham & Company, a media and consumer products research/insights consulting practice, with particular expertise in digital place-based video media. He has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Adspace Digital Mall Network.
Consumer packaged goods (CPG), including snack foods and drinks, are staple advertising categories for baseball. Ketcham headed up global brand development as Vice President for PepsiCo’s international snack foods division (Frito Lay), across 43 countries worldwide. He also developed the global brand platform for Lay’s Potato Chips. He also cut his teeth working on PepsiCo’s flagship brand, Pepsi. Bill started is career as a Product Manager at General Foods Corporation, where he worked on bew product development (beverages), as well as established beverage brands.
Bill is also an innovator in sports media, having participated in the launch and growth of ESPN, the largest sports broadcaster in the world. As Senior Vice President of Network Marketing, Bill headed up consumer, advertising trade and cable operator trade marketing, market research, sales support and home video general management.
Phone: 800-416-6123 x805
Email: wketcham@worldbaseball.com
Dominick Porco is a Senior Media Advisor to World Baseball Network. Porco is a a seasoned media executive with deep analog and digital advertising experience. He is a past President of News America Marketing, the largest in-store advertising company in North America and a division of News Corp Ltd. Under Dominick’s leadership, News America Marketing grew from a $500 million per year domestic coupon distribution company into a $1 billion per year global marketing services company.
Dominick has multi-platform, omni-channel experience that benefits World Baseball Network’s multi-platform growth trajectory. Dominick founded and served as Chairman & CEO of Adspace Networks, now LightBox, the largest digital place-based network in the US. He was co-founder and Executive Chairman of The Beyond Store out-of-home advertising business. He ran print publication portfolio as CEO of Prestige Publications. Experiential marketing and advertising are areas where Dominick excels and provides leadership to World Baseball Network.
Dominick is a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Phone: 800-416-6123 x804
Email: dp@worldbaseball.com
Louis Tallarini is the Chairman of the World Baseball Network. In addition to his role guiding financing, business goals and partnerships, Louis is the President of Real Property Investors, Inc., a national real estate asset management and investment company. He is a former accountant at CPA firm Harris Kerr Foster and has extensive experience in real estate investment and media ventures. He has served on many boards including Country Bank and Valuexpress.
Louis is a prolific business person and philanthropist. He is a co-founder and chairman of the Italian Language Foundation, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation where he raises funds and coordinated contributions from national organizations and the Republic of Italy. The collaboration led to the 2011 reinstatement of the Advanced Placement program in Italian Language and Culture in American schools, which had been suspended in 2009. The Italian Government made Tallarini a Commander of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity, which recognizes Italian expatriates and foreigners who have made outstanding contributions to the reconstruction of Italy after World War II, in recognition of his efforts.
Louis has served as President of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, sponsor of the annual Columbus Day Parade in New York City, from 2006-09 and as Chairman of the Board from 2010-14. Tallarini has also served as the General Chairman of the Columbus Weekend Celebration.
Louis served in the United States Army’s 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. He graduated from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting.
Phone: 800-416-6123 x802
Email: lt@worldbaseball.com
Chris Vaccaro is a senior editorial advisor for World Baseball Network.
Chris Vaccaro provides recommendations and analysis of World Baseball Network's editorial strategy, production operations and journalistic standards. The Emmy Award and Murrow Award-winning media executive from Long Island, NY adds additional depth and experience to World Baseball Network's editorial roster.
Chris has worked as an editor at the New York Daily News, AOL, and as Editor-in-Chief of The Topps Company. He was Vice President of Digital at Altice USA News, overseeing platforms and social media for News 12 Networks, Cheddar News, and i24 News. His work has been published in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, ESPN, The Athletic, and more. He is also the Director of Graduate Journalism and a sports journalism professor at Hofstra University, his alma mater. Chris R. Vaccaro is the author of eight books and has produced eight documentaries, including a three-part series about Team Italy’s journey to the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He was inducted into the Long Island Journalism Hall of Fame in 2021.
Phone:
Email: cvaccaro@worldbaseball.com