There was a moment when Yankees star Anthony Volpe’s love of baseball didn’t sit well with his mother.
As children growing up on the Upper East Side, space was tight for the Volpe family, so his father, Michael, created a “little baby ball” for his 5-year-old son based on magazines.
It was great, the now 23-year-old shortstop recalled — until it wasn’t.
“She stayed with me until I smashed a vase and ruined one,” says the artist, who acquired the piece on his parents’ honeymoon. “That definitely made me angry and I had to go back outside. I don’t play ball in the house anymore.”
Now Volpe is breaking records, not pottery.
Last season, he became the first Yankees rookie in franchise history to hit at least 20 home runs and steal at least 20 bases, as well as the first rookie in franchise history to win a Gold Glove Award.
Volpe’s work ethic is modeled after her mother. He also spoke glowingly of her selfless support and chicken parm.
“I’m definitely a motherfucker in many ways,” he confessed. “She’s my best friend and she’s the first person I talk to if I need anything. She’s the most selfless person I’ve ever been around.”
The Boss of the Bronx was the late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.
For the Volpe family in New Jersey, that’s Anthony’s mother.
“She’s definitely the boss,” the shortstop told the Post. “I think anyone who knows our family knows that everything happens through her. We all know that if you want to come to a game, you have to go see my mom. She decides everything. She’s the boss. She’s the head of the family.”
Volpe said she inherited her “competitive spirit” from her mother. . . Whether he’s playing card games or playing sports. ”
Isabel Volpe, 56, a first-generation Filipino immigrant and anesthesiologist, said she woke up between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. to commute from New Jersey to Manhattan. “She never missed practice or picking her up from school.” [Olivia]. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone work harder, but we never talked about it. ”
Volpe also admires his mother’s charm. Even her animals are drawn to her.
He recalled that when he was in high school, his mother was the only person in his family who didn’t want a dog.
“Within two weeks, the dog [Jedi] I follow her everywhere and I really love her,” Volpe laughed.
Asked if his mother, a huge fan of Harry Styles, had ever given him words to live by, Volpe quickly replied: “Family. How important that is.”
The rising MLB star predicted that his mother would be “embarrassed” by the story because she is so “humble and reserved.” But since he’s scheduled to play for the Rays in Tampa Bay on Mother’s Day, he wanted to get the following message across. “Hey Mom, Happy Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day” I love you so much. “
