Each of the founders of Old World Sport, Tom Gillespie and Stephan Rapaglia, has had tremendous coaching and playing experience in the European baseball world. Between them, Tom and Stephan have coached and/or played in the shadows of Windsor Castle and Edinburgh Castle, in Barcelona's Olympic Stadium, and in other historic European locations such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Antwerp, Brno, Cologne, Hamburg, Stockholm, Prague, Madrid, Munich, Regensburg, Rouen, Toulouse, Tuebingen, Grosseto and Zagreb. Old World Sport was founded by Tom and Stephan so that adventurous and enthusiastic North American ballplayers can share these types of experiences.

Tom and Stephan have worked together in European baseball circles since 2004. In addition to various other playing, scouting and coaching experiences, they have coached in Europe at the Junior (16-18) and Senior (18+) National Team levels against the likes of Cuba, Japan and Holland, and alongside former big leaguers such as Barry Larkin, Bruce Hurst, Lance Painter and Mike Nickeas.​

​Tom Gillespie
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Coaching and Administrative Career

• Pittsburgh Pirates International Scout – 2012 - present
  
• Play Global, Executive Director - 2012 - present
• Head Coach, German 18U and 23U National Teams - 2016 - 2018
• European Academies Consultant, Major League Baseball International – 2006 – 2012
• Oakland Athletics International Scout – 2009 – 2011
• Director & Coach (various roles), Great Britain Baseball – 2002 – 2007
• Director of Game Development – Baseball, BaseballSoftballUK – 2002 – 2006
• Playing Career
  

• Stockholm (Sweden Elitseries) – 2008
• Tuebingen Hawks (German Bundesliga 1) – 2004 – 2007
• Bracknell Blazers (Great Britain National League) – 2002
• Macalester College – 1997 – 2000

Tom is originally from Iowa, but he has lived in Europe (England and Germany) since 2001. He currently lives in Hamburg, Germany with his wife Sonja, his daughter (Fiona) and his son (Anton).

Stephan Rapaglia
​
Coaching and Administrative Career

• Member of 2022 Class of the British Baseball Hall of Fame
• Special Advisor, Great Britain Senior National Team – 2016 WBCQ
• Bench Coach, Great Britain Senior National Team – 2012 WBCQ
• ​Head Coach, Great Britain Senior National Team – 2004 – 2010
  • 2007 British Baseball Federation Coach of the Year
• Head Coach, Tuebingen Hawks (German Bundesliga 1) – 2001
• Pitching Coach, Iona College – 1997 – 2000
• Manager, Johnstown Johnnies (Frontier Professional League) – 1998
• Head Coach, B’s Baseball Academy (Stamford, CT – 18U Select Team) – 1996 – 1997
• Varsity Head Coach, Rye Country Day School – 1994 – 1996
• Associate Scout, Houston Astros – 1993 – 1997

Playing Career

• Tuebingen Hawks (German Bundesliga) – 2001
• Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs (Northeast Professional League) – 1995 – 1997
• Neptunus Baseball Club (Dutch Hoofdklasse) – 1993
• Houston Astros (Gulf Coast Astros/Auburn Astros) – 1992
• Amherst College – 1989 – 1992
  • 1991 – 1992 Co-captain

Stephan has lived in Europe on four different occasions (Austria, Holland, Germany and England). He currently lives in Connecticut with his wife (Meg) and three daughters (Hannah, Sarah and Katie).