Hope springs eternal, especially for baseball fans hungry for Jewish heroes.

In the 1970s, for example, many fans thought batting king Rod Carew was Jewish. Rumor had it his wife was a member of the tribe, his children were being raised Jewish, and Carew himself had converted. Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song” rejuvenated the myth in the 1990s. Alas, while the first two claims were true, Carew never converted. And after divorcing, his ties to Judaism largely faded away.

Thus, Jewish Baseball News concludes that Rod Carew is Not a Jew.

Below are three separate lists of players.

The first includes those whom we know have a Jewish parent or grandparent but who have not responded to Jewish Baseball News’ request for additional information: namely, whether they practice another religion, and whether they are willing to be listed as “Jewish.” These players may in fact meet JBN’s criteria, but we won’t list them until the facts are verified.

The second list displays players with Jewish ancestry who don’t consider themselves exclusively Jewish.

The final list shows players with “Jewish-sounding” names who aren’t Jewish.

Many thanks to Ephraim Moxson and Shel Wallman for their ongoing help curating the lists.

Players with Jewish ancestry who don’t identify as exclusively Jewish

  • Dylan Axelrod (2011-15)***
  • Bo Belinsky (1962-70)*
  • Braden Bishop (minors)
  • Danny Burawa (2015)***
  • Lou Boudreau (1938-52)
  • Dylan Cease (2019- )
  • Zack Collins (2019- )
  • Greg Goossen (1965-1970)
  • Paul Goldschmidt (2011- ); see article
  • Matt Grace (2015-2020)
  • Doug Johns (1995-99)
  • Jake Kalish (minors)***
  • Ryan Karp (1995-97)
  • Jason Kipnis (2011-20)
  • Mike LaCoss (1978-1991)
  • Eli Morgan (2021- ) ****
  • Scott Radinsky (1990-2001)
  • Larry Rothschild (1981-82)
  • Dante Rosenberg (minors)
  • Roger Samuels (1988-89)
  • Jacob Young (2023- )

Players with “Jewish-sounding” names who aren’t

  • Mark Appel (2022- )
  • Lance Berkman (1999-2013)
  • Madison Bumgarner (2009- )
  • Geoff Blum (1999-2012)
  • Jacob Brumfield (1992-99)
  • David Eckstein (2001-10)
  • Gabe Gross (2004-10)
  • Robbie Grossman (2013- )
  • Mike Jacobs (2005-12)
  • Phil Klein (2014-16)
  • Al Leiter (1987-2005)
  • Jon Lieber (1994-2008)
  • Kyle Lobstein (2014-21)
  • John Lowenstein (1970-85)
  • Steven Matz (2015- )
  • Kevin Mench (2002-10)
  • J.J. Putz (2003-14)
  • Josh Ravin (2015-18)
  • B.J. Rosenberg (2012-14)
  • Trevor Rosenthal (2012- )
  • Michael Roth (2013-16)
  • Jordan Schafer (2009-15)
  • Max Scherzer (2008- )
  • Stephen Strasburg (2011- )
  • Steve Susdorf (2013)
  • Jordan Zimmermann (2009- )
  • Ryan Zimmerman (2005- )
  • Walt Weiss (1987-2000)

Players rumored to be Jewish who aren’t

  • Jose Bautista (2004-2018)**
  • Moe Drabowsky (1956-72)
  • Wade Boggs (1982-99)
  • Sid Bream (1983-94)
  • Rod Carew (1967-85)
  • Ron Cey (1971-87)
  • Clayton Kershaw (2008- )
  • Johnny Kling (1900-13)
  • Jake Livingstone (1901)
  • Buddy Myer (1925-41)
  • Jim Palmer (1965-84)
  • Ed Reulbach (1905-17)

* Belinsky’s mother was born Jewish but converted out of the faith before he was born.

** However, Jose J. Bautista (1988-97) is Jewish.

*** Has played for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. His brother, former MLB OF Ryan Kalish, does identify as Jewish.

**** Initially agreed to identify as Jewish, his father’s tradition, but subsequently said he identified as Christian

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For our all-time list of players who are Jewish, click here.

Many thanks to Jewish Sports Review for its ongoing help curating the list.

Players with Jewish ancestry who don’t consider themselves exclusively Jewish

  • Dylan Axelrod (2011-15)***
  • Bo Belinsky (1962-70)*
  • Braden Bishop (2019-21; now minors)
  • Danny Burawa (2015)***
  • Lou Boudreau (1938-52)
  • Zack Collins (2019- )
  • Greg Goossen (1965-1970)
  • Paul Goldschmidt (2011- ); see article
  • Matt Grace (2015-2020)
  • Doug Johns (1995-99)
  • Jake Kalish (minors)***
  • Ryan Karp (1995-97)
  • Jason Kipnis (2011- )
  • Mike Koplove (2001-07)
  • Mike LaCoss (1978-1991)
  • Scott Radinsky (1990-2001)
  • Larry Rothschild (1981-82)
  • Dante Rosenberg (minors)
  • Roger Samuels (1988-89)

Players with “Jewish-sounding” names who aren’t

  • Mark Appel (minors)
  • Lance Berkman (1999-2013)
  • Madison Bumgarner (2009- )
  • Geoff Blum (1999-2012)
  • Jacob Brumfield (1992-99)
  • David Eckstein (2001-10)
  • Gabe Gross (2004-10)
  • Robbie Grossman (2013- )
  • Mike Jacobs (2005-12)
  • Phil Klein (2014- )
  • Jon Lieber (1994-2008)
  • Kyle Lobstein (2014- )
  • John Lowenstein (1970-85)
  • Steven Matz (2015- )
  • Kevin Mench (2002-10)
  • J.J. Putz (2003- )
  • Josh Ravin (2015- )
  • B.J. Rosenberg (2012- )
  • Trevor Rosenthal (2012- )
  • Michael Roth (2013- )
  • Jordan Schafer (2009- )
  • Max Scherzer (2008- )
  • Stephen Strasburg (2011- )
  • Steve Susdorf (2013- )
  • Jordan Zimmermann (2009- )
  • Ryan Zimmerman (2005- )
  • Walt Weiss (1987-2000)

Players rumored to be Jewish who aren’t

  • Jose Bautista (2004- )**
  • Moe Drabowsky (1956-72)
  • Wade Boggs (1982-99)
  • Sid Bream (1983-94)
  • Rod Carew (1967-85)
  • Ron Cey (1971-87)
  • Clayton Kershaw (2008- )
  • Johnny Kling (1900-13)
  • Jake Livingstone (1901)
  • Buddy Myer (1925-41)
  • Jim Palmer (1965-84)
  • Ed Reulbach (1905-17)

* Belinsky’s mother was born Jewish but converted before he was born.

** However, Jose J. Bautista (1988-97) is Jewish.

*** Has played for Team Israel in the World Baseball Championship.

____________________________

For our all-time list of players who are Jewish, click here.

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