Game 2 marked the first time in World Series history that a Jewish batter (Alex Bregman) faced a Jewish pitcher (Max Fried)

Here is your summary for the week of October 25-31, which saw Houston take on Atlanta in the first 5 games of the 202`1 World Series:

 

L’sholom

  • Tyler Herron, a former 1st-round draft pick who reached as high as Triple-A, died October 27 at age 35. According to JTA, Herron was of Puerto Rican descent but discovered in 2014 that he had a Jewish grandmother. He later called pitching for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic “the best experience I’ve ever had in baseball.” Herron most recently played for the independent Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks and for Atenienses de Manati of the Puerto Rican Winter League. “He was a tremendous teammate,” said Yamil Benitez, president of the Puerto Rico Players Association. “The time he was with us contributed not only on the field but also away from it. If you are looking for someone who speaks something negative about him, you may not find him.”
Four athletes playing in the 2021 World Series, including Atlanta’s William Contreras, are wearing custom sneakers produced by minor-league pitcher Alex Katz’s company

Mazel tov

  • Many Jewish pitchers and batters have played in a World Series, but Game 2 of this year’s matchup marked the first time a Jewish batter has ever faced a Jewish pitcher. Here’s how Alex Bregman (HOU) fared against Max Fried (ATL): 1st inning, sacrifice fly; 2nd inning, strikeout; 5th inning, groundout.
  • C Garrett Stubbs was added to Houston’s roster before Game 4 when a teammate was removed due to COVID-19 protocols. “It’s exciting,” Stubbs said. “Obviously, you dreamed about it as a little kid.” He did not play in Games 4 or 5.
  • RF Joc Pederson (Braves) — or more likely a ghostwriter — recently penned a column for The Players Tribune. In it, Pederson described being traded from Chicago to Atlanta, and the ways he helped inspire a fun, winning attitude in the Braves’ clubhouse.
  • P Alex Katz (Cubs/Double-A/Tennessee Smokies), an active minor-leaguer who played for Israel in the 2020 Summer Olympics, is not playing in the World Series, but his sneakers are on the field. Three members of the Braves and one Astro are wearing custom, hand-painted shoes created by Katz’s start-up, Stadium Custom Kicks.

At the plate

  • 3B Alex Bregman (Astros) hit .111 (2-for-18) last week with a double, 2 walks, a hit-by-pitch, 2 RBIs, and a .227 on-base percentage (OBP). In two prior World Series with Houston (2017 and 2019), Bregman hit .220 with 5 HRs, a double, a stolen base, 4 walks, and 13 RBIs.
  • OF Joc Pederson (Braves) hit .091 (1-for-11) with a walk, hit-by-pitch, and a .231 OBP. In three prior World Series with the Dodgers (2017, 2018 and 2020), “Joctober” hit .275 with 5 HRs, 2 doubles, 4 walks, and 9 RBIs.
  • P Max Fried (Braves) went 0-for-1 on October 21.

On the mound

  • Max Fried (Braves) struggled in a Game 2 loss on October 21, yielding 6 earned runs over 5 innings on 7 hits, a walk, and 6 strikeouts. He is scheduled to start Game 6 on Tuesday, November 2.

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