Grapefruit League Dinner @ A Baseball Themed Pizzeria

I’ve traveled great distances to try “hit list” pizza places, but sometimes stumbling across a spot you’ve never heard of can be even more rewarding. On a recent trip to Sarasota, Florida, my family and I happened to drive by a pizzeria with a baseball logo one evening around dinnertime. We were intrigued. Shaner’s Pizzeria (6500 Superior Ave) has been in operation for more than 30 years and its backstory is as rare as an unassisted tripled play.

What’s Unique? Shane Rawley was a Major League Baseball pitcher. And he was well regarded during the height of his career which peaked in the mid 1980s with an All Star appearance (1986) and a 17 win season (1989). He played for four teams over the course of his career – Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers. When he retired from baseball, he settled down in Sarasota and decided to open a pizzeria. The restaurant is decked out in baseball memorabilia and serves as a tribute to Shane’s career. But perhaps the best part is that Shane is there in person most nights — welcoming patrons, cleaning tables, pouring beers, and makings sure that everyone feels at home.

What To Eat? Pizza, obviously. The thing is… the pizza is surprisingly great. This isn’t the type of place that is heavily covered by the food media or has gone viral on TikTok (yet). So it flies a bit under the radar (although there was a 30 minute wait for our table on a Friday evening). The restaurant serves tavern style pies — thin crust, bar pies that are typically cut into a grid of small squares and are said to have originated in the Chicago area. Our large cheese pie, which was only $16, easily fed two people. After recently trying some of the most well regarded tavern style pies in Chicago, I can confidently say that this was as delicious as spots like Vito & Nick’s. There is also a list of specialty pies, salads, and even wings.

What To Know Before You Go? The restaurant is located 15 minutes from Ed Smith Stadium, where the Baltimore Orioles play their spring training games. If you’re visiting in late February or March, I can’t think of a better post-game meal for any baseball fan. Shane seemed happy to sign autographs for fans and talk about his career. I asked him if any of his former “colleagues” ever stop by (he shared a roster with legends such as Mike Schmidt, Dave Winfield, Don Mattingly, and Kirby Puckett). “That was a long time ago,” he replied. He pointed out that he’s been running the pizzeria for twice as long as his playing career. Hopefully, Shaner’s Pizzeria will be around for years to come.

 

Grapefruit League Dinner @ A Baseball Themed Pizzeria

I’ve traveled great distances to try “hit list” pizza places, but sometimes stumbling across a spot you’ve never heard of can be even more rewarding. On a recent trip to Sarasota, Florida, my family and I happened to drive by a pizzeria with a baseball logo one evening around dinnertime. We were intrigued. Shaner’s Pizzeria …