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Frankie Moscatiello is bananas for oysters.
Long Island’s own Savannah Banana is coming home this weekend to appear at Oyster Bay’s massive annual Oyster Fest at Theodore Roosevelt Park.
“I’ll have my signature Italian flag headband that I’m going to wear while I’m there — and that’s where a lot of the people recognize me from,” the Rocky Point native told The Post. “Everybody on the team kind of has their own character. … I really bought into the Long Island Italian guy from New York.”
Bananas. Photo courtesy of Savannah Bananas
Moscatiello joined the fun-filled baseball team a year ago after several seasons in independent league and overseas baseball, including a stint with the Long Island Ducks, after pitching for St. Thomas Aquinas College.
“The financial situation isn’t great in independent ball,” he admitted. “I decided after eight years of professional baseball, and I just turned 30, I was going to hang up the cleats, and turn into an adult and get an adult job.”
Then a much more a-peel-ing alternative arose at a friend’s suggestion.
Moscatiello flew to Dallas for a Bananas tryout, where he was judged as much on his ability to break it down as a dancer as his ability as a player, and “God willing” made the cut, with a much more fruitful salary.
Now fans, especially in the Northeast, resonate with the paisan persona and root for him to be great.
“I love it,” Moscatiello said.
“I say it every day: It’s the best job in the world, and I believe that wholeheartedly.”