For most baseball teams, a home run means a bat flip, a curtain call, or a mob scene at home plate. For Team Italy at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, it meant something far more Italian — a shot of espresso, pulled fresh from a machine right there in the dugout. Now, that very machine is up for auction, and the story behind it is just as good as the celebration itself.
The espresso maker that traveled with the Italian squad through the WBC is currently being auctioned through MLB, and as of the time of reporting, bidding had already climbed to $3,290 with 75 bids placed. But this isn’t just a piece of memorabilia for the highest bidder — the proceeds are going to charity, which makes the whole thing considerably sweeter.
Just so everyone knows the proceeds from this will be going to SAARC.
Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center. They provide service for children, teens and adults with autism.
This was a group decision because this center has helped some people that are apart of our team.… https://t.co/WsK8KzVvDS— Vinnie Pasquantino (@VPasquantino) March 20, 2026
If you watched any of Italy’s run through this year’s tournament and found yourself charmed by the espresso celebration, here’s everything you need to know about the auction and what makes this particular machine worth bidding on.
The Espresso Tradition That Captivated Baseball Fans Everywhere
The World Baseball Classic has a way of producing moments that remind you why baseball, at its best, is genuinely fun. Team Italy’s espresso ritual was one of those moments. Every time an Italian player hit a home run, teammates gathered in the dugout to celebrate with shots of espresso — a nod to Italian culture that felt completely authentic rather than staged.
Manager Francisco Cervelli made clear just how central the machine was to the team’s identity throughout the tournament. “It goes everywhere with us,” Cervelli said. “It’s something normal. We got it on the bus. We’ve had it in the dugout, everywhere.”
That quote tells you something important. This wasn’t a prop pulled out for TV cameras. The machine was a genuine part of the team’s daily routine, riding the bus with players and coaches, showing up in the dugout for games, and apparently pulling shots through the entire WBC run.
What You’re Actually Bidding On
This isn’t a replica or a commemorative edition — it’s the actual espresso machine used during at least three of Team Italy’s WBC contests. The machine appeared in the dugout for the following games:
- The March 10 pool game
- The March 14 quarterfinal
- The March 16 semifinal
The machine also comes with several decorative touches that make it unmistakably a piece of WBC history:
- World Baseball Classic logo on the front and both sides
- An “I” logo for Italy on both the left and right panels
- Player number decals
- A sticker that reads “Baseball Isn’t Boring”
That last detail feels very on-brand. The Italian team spent the entire tournament making a compelling argument for exactly that sentiment.
Auction Details at a Glance
Information
Why the Charity Angle Makes This More Than Just Memorabilia
Sports memorabilia auctions happen constantly, and most of them are straightforward transactions — someone pays a lot of money for a signed jersey or a game-used bat, and it ends up in a display case somewhere. This one is a little different.
The proceeds from the espresso machine auction are going to a charitable cause, according to the source reporting. While the specific charity was not fully detailed in the available reporting, the fact that Team Italy chose to channel the goodwill generated by their viral dugout moment into something meaningful says a lot about the organization’s values.
It also reframes what the auction is. You’re not just buying a coffee machine with some stickers on it — you’re participating in something that the players and staff clearly cared about beyond the tournament itself.
The Moment That Made This Machine Famous
To understand why 75 people were willing to bid thousands of dollars on an espresso maker, you have to go back to what the WBC actually looked like for Team Italy this year. The Italian squad — which included a roster full of players with genuine major league pedigree — made a real run through the tournament, reaching the semifinals before their journey ended.
Throughout that run, the espresso celebration became one of the defining images of the entire WBC. Baseball fans who had never paid much attention to Italy’s team suddenly found themselves rooting for a group of guys who clearly loved the game and loved each other — and who saw nothing unusual about keeping a full espresso machine operational in a professional baseball dugout.
Cervelli’s matter-of-fact description of the machine’s role — on the bus, in the dugout, everywhere — captures exactly what made it resonate. It wasn’t a gimmick. It was just how this team operated.
What Happens When the Auction Closes
The auction is set to close on March 23 at 8 p.m. ET, hosted through MLB’s official auction platform. With 75 bids already placed and the price sitting above $3,000, it’s reasonable to expect the final number to climb before the deadline.
Whoever wins gets a piece of one of the most talked-about moments from the 2023 World Baseball Classic — a machine that has pulled espresso shots on a team bus, in a professional dugout, and during a deep playoff run. For a certain kind of baseball fan, that’s a hard combination to pass up.
And somewhere, Francisco Cervelli probably approves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is being auctioned by Team Italy?
Team Italy is auctioning the actual espresso machine used in their dugout during at least three games at the 2023 World Baseball Classic, including the March 10 pool game, the March 14 quarterfinal, and the March 16 semifinal.
How much has the bidding reached so far?
As of the time of reporting, the bidding had reached $3,290 with 75 total bids placed.
When does the auction end?
The auction closes on March 23 at 8 p.m. ET and is being held through MLB’s official auction platform.
What decorations are on the espresso machine?
The machine features the World Baseball Classic logo on the front and sides, an “I” logo for Italy on both panels, player number decals, and a sticker reading “Baseball Isn’t Boring.”
Where do the auction proceeds go?
The proceeds are going to a charitable cause, though the specific charity was not fully detailed in the available reporting at the time of publication.
Did Francisco Cervelli confirm the machine traveled with the team?
Yes. Cervelli was previously quoted saying, “It goes everywhere with us. It’s something normal. We got it on the bus. We’ve had it in the dugout, everywhere.”