'The (sweet) Seasons of (Valentines and) Buffalo Baseball'

Book & chocolate make sweetheart of a deal

Searching for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for that baseball fan in your life? Search no further, as Billoni Publishing has put together a sweetheart of a deal.

With every copy of “The Seasons of Buffalo Baseball 1857-2020” purchased at select locations through Feb. 14, a solid chocolate baseball mitt and ball will be included as a sweet bonus.

Mike Billoni, president of Billoni Publishing, said the  package is a hometown collaboration.

“In putting together this Valentine’s promotion, we knew we wanted to include some kind of baseball-related chocolate made right here in Western New York,” he said. “With one phone call to Kelly’s Country Store on Grand Island, we hit a home run with their solid chocolate baseball mitt and ball. The fact that all of their chocolate is made in their store factory, using a family recipe developed in 1971, made it a grand slam deal for baseball fans and chocolate lovers.” 

Billoni, former vice president and general manager of the Bisons and co-editor of the book, also noted a heartfelt, philanthropic connection between “The Seasons of Buffalo Baseball” and the Buffalo community. 

 “ I am extremely excited that a portion of our book sale proceeds and sponsorships will fund the Joseph M. Overfield Memorial Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Mentoring Program. It’s a collaboration with Omega Mentoring and the Willie ‘Hutch’ Jones Education and Sports Program that will operate out of the Johnnie B. Wiley Amateur Athletic Sports Pavilion, formerly War Memorial Stadium, which of course was the first home of the Buffalo Bisons under Rich Products ownership,” he said. 

“The Seasons of Buffalo Baseball 1857-2020” Valentine package is available at The Bookworm & BW Gifts, 34 Elm St., East Aurora; Bases Loaded Sports Collectables, 794 French Road, Cheektowaga; Riverside Men’s Shop and S&E Jewelers, 6470 Transit Road, Depew; Talking Leaves Book Store, 951 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo; Thin Ice, 719 Elmwood Ave., Buffalo; and Niagara Frontier Publications, 1859 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island.

The book itself can be ordered online at http://bit.ly/SeasonsBuffaloBaseball57-20Amazon.

Billoni is a writer for NFP and this website.