The passion.
That is what clearly comes out when discussing why Bishop Eustace's Sam Tropiano is among the more successful baseball coaches in South Jersey history.
Whether it's coaching in a game, throwing hours of batting practice or guiding the team in summer American Legion competition, Tropiano can't wait to get to the field. It shows in his actions, and this unabashed enthusiasm rubs off on his players.
The passion comes through clearly when talking to Tropiano about his team, about the game he loves, his place of employment - but not so much when he has to talk about himself.
Few coaches who have been as successful as Tropiano have yearned to stay so far in the background. But even he can't escape the spotlight as he nears a momentous achievement.
Entering Tuesday's action Tropiano had a record of 497-181 in a career that began at St. Augustine and is now in his 21st season at Eustace. During his time at Eustace, the Crusaders have won five state championships, six South Jersey crowns, three Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic titles and 15 Olympic Conference National Division championships.
Despite all those accolades, what truly impresses those who have been associated with Tropiano is his sheer love of the game.
"He has so much passion for the game, and he cares about his players a lot," said Marc Sauer, an Oakland A's scout, and a 1998 graduate of Bishop Eustace who was The Inquirer's South Jersey player of the year as a senior. "He's always trying to learn new stuff and work on different things, and every day he brings so much energy onto the field."
The 50-year-old Tropiano played soccer as a youth but always loved the game of baseball. Born in Italy, he came to the United States at the age of 6, lived in Philadelphia and attended what was then known as Bishop Neumann High and then Villanova.
He got his baseball break early on while beginning his teaching career at St. Augustine in 1982-83 when the school needed a junior varsity baseball coach.
Almost immediately, Tropiano was hooked on coaching baseball.
"I am a teacher at heart and love teaching the game, the discipline of the game," he said.
Midway through the 1984 baseball season, the varsity coach at St. Augustine departed, and Tropiano was named coach. Counting that season, he was there four years, before taking a teaching job at Eustace.
Tropiano used to teach English but now is head of the social studies department at Eustace and also teaches advanced placement psychology.
Early in his career, he had a goal to teach at Eustace, and it meant giving up a job as a varsity coach. In 1997, he was hired as a teacher at Eustace and served as the junior varsity baseball coach in 1988 and varsity assistant the next season. When Eustace head coach Joe Galliera left after the 1989 season, Tropiano was appointed.
He won a state title that first year, 1990, and has been winning ever since.
"I have been so fortunate that I am at a great school that attracts hard-workings kids," he said. "You won't get a better type of kid than we get at Eustace."
"The thing about [Tropiano] is his passion for baseball and Bishop Eustace is unparalleled," said varsity assistant Nick Italiano, the 1999 Inquirer South Jersey player of the year as a second baseman at Eustace. "He wants the program to succeed for people there now and people there before them and has taken a lot of pride in what Bishop Eustace baseball is."
Nowhere is Tropiano's passion shown more than during the seemingly mundane art of throwing batting practice. No doubt Tropiano has a rubber arm, ready to throw BP day after day, hours at a time.
"He throws more than I do," Italiano said.
Through the years, the players notice that Tropiano goes the extra mile.
"He would do anything for his players," said 1999 graduate Mike Appalucci, a former Inquirer all-South Jersey outfielder and now an assistant coach at Moorestown.
The current player who knows Tropiano best is senior outfielder Anthony Mungiole, who happens to be the nephew of the Eustace coach. Mungiole has been watching Eustace baseball games for more than a decade. Tropiano estimates that his nephew has seen probably half of his wins.
"He knows pitching and hitting and has a great knowledge of the game," Mungiole said.
Mungiole has received no preferential treatment. In fact, he didn't become a starter until his senior year.
"He's been tough on me because he didn't want to show favoritism," Mungiole said. "That said, it has meant a lot to me to play for him."
Tropiano says he has been blessed with great players and assistant coaches over the years, but the best teammate throughout has been his wife, Marianne, whose passion for Bishop Eustace baseball rivals her husband's.
"You can't do the things I've been able to do without such a supportive wife," he said.
And it appears he will continue doing them for quite some time.
Even after all these years, Tropiano has no trouble bringing his unharnessed spirit into the classroom and onto the field.
"I will keep doing it as long as I am having fun," he said.
Then pausing, he laughed when adding, "I may have a few miles left on the tires."
For the sake of Eustace and South Jersey baseball, that's a good thing.