If You Like My Column, You’ll Love My Book

Posted on: April 10th, 2013

Let me tell you about my new book. Like you, I’m interested in Jewish baseball players and Jewish history. So, after years of research, first-hand observations and interviews, I combined the aforementioned information from the post-civil war era to the present and came up with a book titled Jewish History in the Time of Baseball's Jews: Life on Both Sides of the Ocean.

2013 Crystal Ball

Posted on: March 6th, 2013

Many of the baseball beat writers feel the Detroit Tigers are the best team in the major leagues. While I haven't seen all of the pre-season articles, the ones I have read pick the Tigers to top the Central division in the American League.

Brooklyn Dodger Memories

Posted on: February 6th, 2013

A few months ago I wrote about the passing of my brother-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Kunda, z”l, and how he never got around to a project I urged him to take on. I wanted him to title it "Boruch Goes to Ebbets Field" and tell the story of how Boruch bonds with Brooklyn's beloved Dodgers – with Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges and the rest. (The Duke was my brother-in-law's favorite.)

Speaking Of Jewish Ballplayers…

Posted on: January 16th, 2013

Last season the Philadelphia Phillies had a Rosenberg, the St. Louis Cardinals had a Rosenthal, and the Arizona Diamondbacks had a Goldschmidt.

Those Who Left Us

Posted on: December 12th, 2012

As of early December, some 72 former major leaguers had died in 2012. The number is much higher than any of us would have guessed.

Another Season In The Books/A Remarkable Brother-In-Law

Posted on: November 7th, 2012

What an unusual postseason it was. The Yankees looked inept against the ferocious Tigers and the Tigers in turn looked toothless against the San Francisco Giants as they were swept in the World Series.

A Happy 90th To Ralph Kiner

Posted on: October 11th, 2012

Ralph Kiner turns ninety on the 27th of October. Where have the years gone? Many Jewish Press readers grew up watching Kiner's Korner, the post-game television show featuring yesterday's heroes and the Mets' one-day wonders.

Israel And The World Baseball Classic

Posted on: September 12th, 2012

For the first time, Israel will participate in the qualifying round of the World Baseball Classic. That's the good news. The bad news concerns the dates they'll be playing in Florida. Earlier in the year it was thought the early rounds would start in other countries before moving to Florida in November. Assuming Israel would still be in the WBC games, the Florida site would be Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.

What I Did On My ‘Mancation’

Posted on: August 9th, 2012

Last year I told you about my "mancation" (men only) to a city to check out its Jewish community and major league team and ballpark. Last year it was Pittsburgh and Cincinnati; this year's first "mancation" destination was Cleveland.

The Delmon Young Saga

Posted on: July 11th, 2012

Every time Delmon Young come to bat, gets on base or makes a play in the field, we are reminded of his anti-Semitic rant in New York back in April.

Abe Stark’s Famous Sign

Posted on: June 7th, 2012

The 40th yahrzeit of Abe Stark, who died at 77 in July 1972, is almost upon us. Those of you who remember Ebbets Field, abandoned by the Dodgers in 1957, can recall the Abe Stark sign on the bottom of the scoreboard embedded in the right field wall.

Jackie Robinson: A Real Mensch

Posted on: May 9th, 2012

I was lucky enough to have met and interviewed many Hall of Famers including Joe DiMaggio, Hank Greenberg, Ted Williams and Stan Musial. I also had the chance to meet and gab with many of the stars from the old Negro Leagues who went on to play in the major leagues after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier – Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, Larry Doby, Monte Irvin and Satchel Paige. But I never had the chance to meet Jackie Robinson.

Play Ball!

Posted on: April 12th, 2012

The 2012 baseball season should be a most interesting one. Every game is important. No longer can a team just play for the Wild Card spot and have an equal shot with the three division winners at participating in the World Series (as St. Louis did last year).

At Catcher… Myron Ginsberg

Posted on: February 8th, 2012

Sixty years ago and fifty years ago. 1952 and 1962. They were memorable years for many of us.

A Pair Of Pitchers… And Some Welcome Changes

Posted on: January 11th, 2012

Craig Breslow and Jason Marquis will be wearing different uniforms this season. The two pitchers also share a unique trait among those labeled “Jewish players” by the media: Breslow and Marquis both have two Jewish parents.

1951: A Great Year In Baseball

Posted on: December 7th, 2011

I was one of 2,400 people at the recent Yeshiva Beth Yehudah dinner held in downtown Detroit.

Fantasy Come True

Posted on: November 14th, 2011

Seventy-eight degrees and sunny. That's what it was that Thursday afternoon in November when I arrived in Tampa, site of the Yankees Fantasy Camp. That's what it was that Thursday afternoon in November when I arrived in Tampa, site of the Yankees Fantasy Camp. After checking into the Sheraton Suites where the campers were staying for the Monday through Saturday camp, I shuttled to George M. Steinbrenner Field (where the Yanks play during spring training and also the home of the Tampa Yankees, three levels below the major leagues), to join the camp in progress.

Another Season In The Books

Posted on: November 12th, 2011

Wow! What a finish to the 2011 baseball season. Even before the interesting seven-game World Series won by St. Louis, there was incredible drama in the final month.

‘Mancation’ In Cincinnati

Posted on: October 12th, 2011

Two months ago I told you about my "Mancation" (men only, we visit different cities, check out a ballgame and the shuls, etc.).

Hank Greenberg’s 25th Yahrzeit

Posted on: September 7th, 2011

It was Hank Greenberg's 25th yahrzeit recently and I said Kaddish for baseball's biggest Jewish superstar.