In 1982, the San Jose State baseball team went 14-39. Marko Trapani Sr., whose son, Marko Jr., was a freshman on the roster, was determined to help.
Marko Sr. was born in San Jose in 1937 and grew up in Willow Glen. He built a successful business in San Jose - Edwards, Longwello and Trapani Insurance - and invested in real estate in the South Bay. The former high school basketball player was always a fixture at his four sons' games. When Marko Jr., a multi-sport star at Saratoga HS who won a section football title at Spartan Stadium, was offered a spot on the SJSU baseball team by head coach Gene Menges, Marko Sr. was just as excited as his son.
Marko Sr. (top left) helping coach Marko Jr.'s (front row, third from right) little league team, the Beaver Car Wash Beavers.
As the 1982 team struggled, it became clear the program needed a boost. Scholarship money was limited compared to some other teams on the West Coast. Marko Sr., along with Spartan Foundation member John Moran, rallied some members of the SJSU community and raised scholarship funds, which coach Menges and his staff quickly put to good use.
"In the fall of 1983, I'll never forget those first few workouts," Marko Jr. said. "I heard we had some good recruits, but it was night and day, the talent on the field."
One of the many new players was a junior college third baseman named Ken Caminiti, who would go on to be a second team All-American and be selected by the Houston Astros in the third round of the MLB draft. The Spartans went 32-20 in 1983, a drastic improvement over the 14 wins in Marko Jr.'s freshman season.
Marko Jr. up to bat for the Spartans at Nevada with his family in the bleachers behind him
Long after Marko Jr. graduated from San Jose State and started his own company - Asero Insurance Services - Marko Sr. remained a San Jose State baseball fan.
"I think the 2000 World Series baseball team is arguably the best team in the history of San Jose State," Marko Jr. said. "My dad still followed the team closely. He was so thrilled. That was a special season"
In 2010, Marko Sr. passed away and Marko Jr. decided to continue the family's dedication to SJSU baseball. He helped organize the yearly Spartan Baseball golf tournament at Cinnabar Hills and in 2018 formed the Spartan Nine committee, a group of local business leaders that helps support Spartan baseball and head coach Brad Sanfilippo.
In 2019, Marko Jr.'s son, Nik Trapani, was being recruited to play baseball at a handful of colleges, but decided to follow in his father's footsteps at San Jose State.
With his own son adding to the family's ties to Spartan baseball, Marko Jr. has continued his father's fundraising legacy with a donation, in honor of his dad, to the Spartan baseball practice field project.
Marko Trapani Jr. (far left), with wife Tammy, and children (L-R) Paul, Alexa, Nik, Marissa and Marko III
"The connection to San Jose State is deep for our family," Marko Jr. said. "Now that Connie and Bob Lurie have stepped up in a huge way, I felt now was the time to make another splash. Charlie Faas, Marie Tuite, coach Sanfilippo, and now Rob Clark, have been great champions for us and this project."
The donation amount, which is in addition to other Trapani family gifts to SJSU, is undisclosed.
"The Trapani family have been amazing supporters of San Jose State baseball for many, many years," said Tuite. "This heartfelt story regarding Marko Sr. demonstrates the deep affection the Trapani family has for Spartan baseball. We're especially thrilled to have Nik as part of our current baseball club. We'd like to thank Marko Jr. and Tammy for their continued support of the program and this gift gets us one step closer to starting construction on the baseball practice field."
Marko Jr. saw first-hand how support from donors can lead to more competitive programs. His memories of winning baseball seasons were fueled, not only by his father's philanthropy, but his love of his son and sport.
"I still have a memory book my dad had put together," Marko Jr. said. "Old game stories, photos and stats he kept at every game. I cherish that gift from him."
With the goal of a new baseball practice complex within reach, the Spartans will cherish this gift for many years to come.