Jewish Baseball News

News and stats on Jews with bats

Twitter profile Facebook page Instagram profile Email

Browsing Posts published by scott

Saturday, 3/7/2015 @ 9:25am

  • (9:25am) Aaron Poreda is adapting well to Japan. He pitched 2 hitless innings Sunday for the Yomiuri Giants * * *
  • (9:23am) Josh Satin, Kevin Pillar, Sam Fuld, and Ike Davis went hitless Friday, although Davis drew a walk * * *
  • (9:16am) Brewers prospect Ben Guez wasn’t invited to Spring Training, but Friday he snuck in an at-bat and several innings in RF against the Dodgers * * *
  • (9:10am) Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson is hitting .714 after going 2-for-3 Friday with a double and an RBI single * * *
  • (9:05am) Padres prospect Cody Decker played catcher and first base and had an RBI single in his lone at-bat Friday * * *
  • (9:02am) Detroit’s Josh Zeid escaped with a scoreless 5th inning Friday after giving up singles to the first two batters * * *
Share

Thursday, 3/5/2015 @ 3:27pm

Share

Thursday, 3/5/2015 A.M.

  • (9:04am) Here’s video of the 3-run shot that Detroit’s Ian Kinsler hit on Tuesday * * *
  • (9:00am) Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun says he’s “very encouraged, very excited” about his recovery from thumb surgery * * *
  • (8:52am) Sam Fuld singled and walked, while Ike Davis went 2-for-3 in Oakland’s 9-2 win over the Giants on Wednesday * * *
  • (8:44am) Dodgers rookie Joc Pederson made his 2015 Spring Training debut at DH, going 2-for-2 with a double and a single Wednesday * * *
  • (8:33am) Toronto OF Kevin Pillar hit an RBI double Wednesday and tossed out a man at second in a 4-1 win over Pittsburgh * * *
Share

Tuesday, 3/3/2015 @ 8:33pm

  • (8:33pm) Here’s video of Toronto’s Kevin Pillar crushing a 2-run HR today * * *
  • (8:26pm) Nate Freiman doubled and Sam Fuld singled for Oakland in a 9-4 win over the Giants * * *
  • (8:24pm) Ian Kinsler hit a 3-run HR and Josh Zeid pitched a scoreless inning for Detroit in a 15-2 win over the O’s * * *
  • (8:15pm) Kevin Pillar hit a 2-run HR and Danny Valencia walked for Toronto in a 8-7 loss to Pittsburgh * * *
  • (7:06pm) Lebron James on coach David Blatt: “I respect him as a coach, he respects me as a leader of this team and we have some good chemistry right now” * * *
  • (6:39pm) After starting the season 19-20, Lebron James’ Cavaliers have won 18 of their last 22 under rookie coach David Blatt * * *
  • (6:34pm) The Marlins will host their first-ever Spring Training Jewish Heritage Day on March 22 * * *
  • (5:22pm) The Reds lead Cleveland 8-0 in the 7th, thanks in part to two shutout innings from starter Jason Marquis * * *
Share

Tuesday, 3/3/2015 @ 6:50am

  • (6:50am) Play ball! Jason Marquis will make his Reds debut today against Cleveland on Spring Training’s opening day * * *
Share

Wednesday, 2/25/2015 @ 9:19am

Share

Sunday, 2/22/2015 @ 7:17am

  • (7:17am) Boston’s Craig Breslow says he’s feeling good and strong and hopes to return to his 2013 form * * *
  • (7:07am) Jordan Yallen‘s dad and grandpa were college sprinters, and his grandma was a “world-class ice skater” * * *
  • (7:03am) The White Sox signed former Cal State-Dominguez Hills 2B Jordan Yallen to a minor-league contract and assigned him to the club’s rookie-league team * * *
Share

Thursday, 2/19/2015 @ 5:57pm

  • To life! At least 18 Jews will attend MLB Spring Training starting this month * * *
Share

By Scott Barancik, Editor

As MLB clubs begin Spring Training this month, at least 18 Jews will be playing.

Players attending Spring Training due to roster spots include:

  1. Ryan Braun (LF/1B), Milwaukee Brewers
  2. Craig Breslow (P), Boston Red Sox
  3. Ike Davis (1B), Oakland Athletics
  4. Scott Feldman (P), Houston Astros
  5. Nate Freiman (1B), Oakland Athletics
  6. Sam Fuld (CF/LF), Oakland Athletics
  7. Ian Kinsler (2B), Detroit Tigers
  8. Joc Pederson (CF/LF), Los Angeles Dodgers
  9. Kevin Pillar (LF/CF), Toronto Blue Jays
  10. Danny Valencia (3B), Toronto Blue Jays
  11. Josh Zeid (P), Detroit Tigers

Non-roster invitees include:

  1. Jeremy Bleich (P), Pittsburgh Pirates
  2. Charlie Cutler (C), Los Angeles Angels
  3. Cody Decker (1B/OF), San Diego Padres
  4. Ryan Lavarnway (C), Baltimore Orioles
  5. Jason Marquis (P), Cincinnati Reds
  6. Jon Moscot (P), Cincinnati Reds
  7. Josh Satin (3B/2B/1B), Cincinnati Reds

The A’s lead all teams with three roster players, and the Reds with three non-roster invitees.

Reds prospect Jon Moscot is the only one among the 18 who hasn’t played in an MLB Spring Training game. Padres prospect Cody Decker is a Spring Training killer, having gone a combined 6-for-17 (.353) across three seasons with 1 HR, 2 doubles, 4 RBI and 2 walks.

Seven of the 18 players will be playing for new franchises. They include ex-Pirate Ike Davis, ex-Red Sox Ryan Lavarnway, ex-Met Josh Satin, ex-Padre Jason Marquis,  ex-Astro Josh Zeid, ex-Yankee prospect Jeremy Bleich, and ex-Cubs prospect Charlie Cutler.

Players notable for not being invited this year include Diamondbacks prospect Zach Borenstein, who made brief appearances at the Angels spring training in 2013 and 2014; Red Sox prospect Danny Rosenbaum, who went a combined 2-2 with a 3.97 ERA in the Spring of 2013 (Rockies) and 2014 (Nationals); Oakland prospect Jeff Urlaub, who got knocked around a bit in the Spring of 2014; and Brewers prospect Ben Guez. During five Spring Trainings with the Tigers, the 28-year-old OF was phenomenal, going 9-for-17 (.529) with 3 doubles, 2 RBI, and nine walks for a .692 on-base percentage.

# # #

Share

Monday, 2/16/2015 @ 7:46am

Share

Sunday, 2/8/2015 @ 9:08pm

  • (9:11pm) Caribes de Anzoategui G.M. Samuel Moscatel also is the father of ex-Cardinals prospect Kevin Moscatel * * *
  • (9:08pm) The G.M. of the 2014 Venezuelan Baseball League champion Caribes de Anzoategui is Samuel Moscatel, who is Jewish * * *
  • (3:25pm) Mike Schwartz was among Frontier League leaders in 2014, hitting .336 with 16 HR, 68 RBI, and more walks (55) than whiffs (44) * * *
  • (3:19pm) The Normal CornBelters have traded ex-White Sox prospect Mike Schwartz to the independent Ottawa Champions * * *
  • (3:08pm) Ex-Orioles prospect and U. of Memphis football player Tyler Kolodny has signed with the independent Frontier Greys * * *
  • (2:48pm) The independent Gateway Grizzlies have re-signed Richard Siegel, who hit .258 with 10 HR, 36 RBI and 10 SB in his rookie season * * *
  • (2:33pm) Max Schonfeld, the career E.R.A. leader at Molloy College (Div. II), has signed with the Gateway Grizzlies of the independent Frontier League * * *
Share

Monday, 2/2/2015 @ 5:27pm

  • (5:31pm) Speaking of Nate Ebner, have you read S.I.’s story about his incredible journey to the NFL? * * *
  • (5:27pm) c/o Kaplan’s Korner: though the Patriots’ Julian Edelman has Jewish lineage, he was raised Christian. But special-teams guy Nate Ebner is Jewish * * *
Share

Saturday, 1/31/2015 @ 8:49am

Share

Thursday, 1/29/2015 @ 8:55pm

  • (8:55pm) The Washington Post’s ode to U. of Md. senior Jacob Susskind, an Orthodox kid who walked-on to the basketball team * * *
  • (8:12pm) Israeli baseball star Dean Kremer will transfer to UNLV next year on a scholarship. Will he get drafted first? * * *
  • (4:59pm) Remember we said only three Jewish position players had ever tossed an MLB pitch? There were four! Our bad… * * *
Share

Wednesday, 1/28/2015 @ 5:27pm

  • (5:27pm) Why does Patriots QB Tom Brady’s new house have a menorah in it? * * *
  • (9:55am) Is Cardinals prospect Rob Kaminsky working out too hard? His night/day splits are like, well, night and day * * *
  • (9:50am) Here’s some more background on Cardinals prospect Mason Katz‘s bid to add “catcher” to his repertoire * * *
  • (9:45am) Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold says 2B/1B prospect Mason Katz may add catching to his repertoire because the Cards value versatility * * *
  • (9:10am) Baseball America’s preseason ranking of the top 10 St. Louis Cardinals prospects lists 20-year-old LHP Rob Kaminsky at #5 * * *
Share

Monday, 1/26/2015 @ 9:37pm

  • (9:37pm) LSU junior Alex Bregman is ranked 13th on Baseball America’s list of the Top 50 prospects in the 2015 draft class * * *
  • (9:01pm) Wow! Rays prospect Maxx Tissenbaum finished the Australian baseball season with a fifth-ranked .340 average, rapping out 3 hits each in 5 of his last 10 games * * *
  • (4:01pm) After 143 years in the Majors, only four Jewish position players have tossed a pitch. Sam Fuld is one. Who are the other three? * * *
Share

(Note: The article below has been updated to include a 2015 pitching stint by Oakland’s Ike Davis.)

By Scott Barancik, Editor

In the 144 years since OF Nate Berkenstock debuted with the Philadelphia Athletics, in 1871, scores of Jewish position players have taken the field in a Major League game, but only five of them have gotten the chance to pitch.

Sam Mayer, 1915

Sam Mayer, a 22-year-old RF with the Washington Senators, was the first. The year was 1915, the date September 17, the place D.C.’s Griffith Stadium, the opponent the St. Louis Browns. Although the Senators entered the game with a healthy 75-61 record, they were in 4th place in the American League, a full 16 games behind the 1st-place Boston Red Sox. With just 19 games remaining in the regular season, Washington was all but out of the running to reach the World Series.

A box score for the Friday afternoon game tells the story. Washington starter Joe Boehling was pulled from the mound with just one out in the bottom of the 1st inning, having allowed three earned runs on four hits. Doc Ayers, a 6’1″ reliever/starter, faced the next 19 batters, shutting down the Browns on 6 hits and no walks.

Player Year Team G IP H BF ER BB SO W L ERA
Ike Davis 2015 OAK (AL) 1 1.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Sam Fuld 2013 TAMP (AL) 1 0.1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Jeff Newman 1977 OAK (AL) 1 1.0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Milt Galatzer 1936 CLE (AL) 1 6.0 7 29 3 5 3 0 0 4.50
Sam Mayer 1915 WAS (AL) 1 0.0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0.00

With his Senators down just 3-0, Senators manager Clark Griffith inexplicably opened the bottom of the 7th inning with Mayer — a rookie RF who had joined the team earlier in the month — on the mound. Because play-by-play information isn’t available for the game, we don’t know who Mayer faced. We do know that he walked the first two batters he saw and then was promptly removed. The Browns ultimately prevailed 9-0 in a complete-game effort by rookie Tim McCabe.

The game, Mayer’s 10th that year, would prove to be his second to last. He went 1-for-1 in a 20-5 rout of the Philadelphia Athletics on September 29, and thus ended his Major League career.

Milt Galatzer, 1935

Milt Galatzer, a 29-year-old RF with the Cleveland Indians in 1935, was the second Jewish position player to take the mound in a Major League game.

The 5’10” Chicago native was enjoying the best season of his career when the second-place Indians (67-55) faced the Washington Senators on August 26, once again at Griffith Stadium (see box score). Senators starter Denny Galehouse was getting shellacked in the first inning. By the time manager Chris O’Neill pulled him, the righthander had retired just two of 10 batters and surrendered 8 runs. Righty reliever George Blaeholder didn’t fare much better, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits over 1.1 innings. That left Cleveland down 11-0 after two innings.

Galatzer took the mound in the top of the third inning and held it until the game’s 14-1 bitter end. Though no masterpiece, his performance nevertheless exceeded his teammates’. Galatzer gave up 3 earned runs on 7 hits and 5 walks over six innings, and he walked away with three strikeouts to his name. He would finish the 1935 season with a career-high .301 batting average and 35 walks against just 8 strikeouts. Galatzer never pitched again.

Jeff Newman, 1977

By the time the Oakland Athletics showed up for a doubleheader at Royals Stadium on September 14, 1977, they probably wished the season were over.

Twenty-nine games under .500, the A’s were facing a Kansas City team that was 34 games over .500 and on a 13-game win streak. Game One went as expected, the Royals prevailing 5-2. Game One was looking no better (see box score). Through the top of the 8th inning, the Royals had staked Cy Young candidate Dennis Leonard to a 6-0 lead.

A’s manager Bobby Winkles — who’d replaced Jack McKeon (26-27) a third of the way through the season, only to see the team go into a free fall — found his next pitcher just 60 feet, 6 inches from the mound: 29-year-old catcher Jeff Newman, who’d started the game batting ninth. A second-year player out of Texas Christian University, Newman had thrown out 56 percent of would-be base stealers in his rookie season and obviously had an arm.

Winkles might have regretted the move at first. Newman plunked Royals DH Hal McRae, who led the A.L. that season in times hit by pitch. Future Hall of Fame 3B George Brett followed with a single. But Newman found his groove, retiring the next three batters in order.

As chance would have it, Newman –up that point 0-3 for the day — came to bat with one on and two outs in the top of the 9th. He flied out to end the game.

Sam Fuld prepares to make his fifth and final pitch against J.B. Shuck (2013)

Sam Fuld prepares to make his fifth and final pitch against J.B. Shuck (2013)

Sam Fuld, 2013

Thirty-six years passed before another Jewish position player threw from the hill.

The date was September 2, 2013, and the visiting Tampa Bay Rays were seeking to end a five-game skid on a day when the host Anaheim Angels were nursing a five-game win streak. The Angels weren’t cooperating, however. By the bottom of the 8th they were trouncing the Rays 11-2, and now the Angels had two on with two outs (see box score).

Rays manager Joe Maddon had already cycled through five pitchers, and his bullpen was tired. In a bid to boost team morale, he called up second-string OF Sam Fuld, a 31-year-old southpaw who had not pitched since his junior year of high school. Fuld tossed four fastballs and a sinker to leadoff hitter J.B. Shuck at a range of 86.2 mph to 87.8 mph, and on the fifth pitch, Shuck popped out to center field to end the inning (see video).

It doesn’t appear in the box score, but Fuld had taken the mound once before, in a 2011 game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Rays manager Maddon sent him there at the start of the 8th inning, let him throw some warm-up pitches, and then pulled him in favor of reliever Cesar Ramos. Maddon later apologized to the Brewers, admitting he had used Fuld to buy time for Ramos to warm up.

A's first baseman <a href=

Ike Davis is congratulated by teammates after pitching a perfect 8th inning against the Angels on 4/212015 (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)" src="http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/davis-pitch-300x206.jpg" width="180" height="124" srcset="http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/davis-pitch-300x206.jpg 300w, http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/davis-pitch-150x103.jpg 150w, http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/davis-pitch.jpg 715w" sizes="(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px" /> A’s first baseman Ike Davis is congratulated by teammates after pitching a perfect 8th inning against the Angels on 4/21/2015 (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Ike Davis, 2015

The Oakland A’s had little to lose on 4/21/2015. Down 14-1 at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels in the bottom of the 8th inning, Oakland sent first baseman Ike Davis to the mound.

The first A’s position player to pitch since 2000 and only the fifth Jewish position player to pitch since 1871, the 28-year-old Davis rolled, retiring all three Los Angeles Angels batters he faced on groundouts (see video and box score). He tossed five changeups and three 4-seam fastballs, all of them between 86mph and 88mph, as well as a 78mph slider.

It’s possible Davis drew comfort from his center fielder: Sam Fuld, who pitched for the Rays in 2013.

# # #

Share

Sunday, 1/25/2015 @ 2:30pm

  • (2:30pm) At a dinner Saturday hosted by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Sandy Koufax presented Clayton Kershaw with the 2014 N.L. MVP and Cy Young awards * * *
  • (2:17pm) What do Peyton Manning, Prince Fielder, and MLB free agent Ryan Kalish have in common? Cervical-fusion surgery on the neck * * *
  • (2:14pm) Happy birthday to Brewers prospect Ben Guez, who turned 28 on Jan. 24 * * *
  • (2:12pm) A fond farewell to Cubs great Ernie Banks. Here’s a photo of him with then-high-school ballplayer Cody Decker * * *
  • (2:10pm) Padres forever-prospect Cody Decker talks about what it’s like to have the El Paso Chihuahua’s amazing fans chant his name * * *
Share

Thursday, 1/22/2015 @ 8:51pm

  • (8:51pm) A belated happy 28th birthday (Jan. 17) to Padres forever-prospect Cody Decker. Our wish for you: MLB debut in 2015! * * *
  • (8:33pm) With the Australian baseball season winding down, Rays C prospect Maxx Tissenbaum is hitting .324 (7th) with 8 HR (5th/tie) and a .942 OPS (7th) * * *
Share

Wednesday, 1/21/2015 @ 10:50pm

Share
© 2025 Jewish Baseball News - Terms
Custom Wordpress website by RDesign Tampa Bay Florida
our tweets on twitter our facebook page RSS feed