JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Bahamian prosecutors dropped a rape charge against Garrett Wittels on Monday (6/20/2011), ending a six-month legal odyssey that cast doubt on the Florida International University infielder’s character and may have cost him a chance at being selected in the recent MLB draft. According to the Miami Herald, Bahamian authorities “decided the…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The running count of Jews chosen in the 2011 MLB draft has reached 8. Last week we reported that at least four of the 1,500 players selected in the three-day amateur draft were Jewish. But thanks to help from Jewish Baseball News reader Dan Cooper, we have identified 4 more. They are: Nick Rickles (Oakland A’s:…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — A number of eagle-eyed readers recently have pointed out glaring omissions in our all-time list of Jewish major leaguers, including such luminaries as Hank Greenberg and Shawn Green. While we always appreciate your e-mails, please note that Jewish Baseball News is in the process of re-populating its database of players. In…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — At least four Jewish players were among the 1,530 amateurs drafted last week by MLB teams. Though the list is likely to grow — Jewish Sports Review typically publishes a more comprehensive tally in its July/August issue — we believe this preliminary list is the first published anywhere this season. Two…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Kevin Youkilis didn’t just practice fielding bunts during Spring Training. The Boston Red Sox 3B also designed his own MLB t-shirt. And wouldn’t you know, he included a nod to his Jewish faith on the very front of the tee. No, not “Dirt Dog.” It’s “L’Chaim,” which we’ve circled in the…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Major League Baseball handed out suspensions for a series-long skirmish between the Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks that peaked on Sunday (6/5/2011). Among those named: Nationals P Jason Marquis, who was ordered to sit out 5 games, or roughly one start in a 5-pitcher cycle. Marquis was 5-and-a-third innings into a…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Little was at stake that day at Riverfront Stadium (6/3/1971). Just 11,751 fans turned up to see their 5th-place Cincinnati Reds, 16-and-a-half games out of first place, play the 4th place Chicago Cubs. On the mound, the Reds’ Gary Nolan (3-6) was due to face the Cubs’ Ken Holtzman (4-6). But…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Call it the Jewish Baseball News curse. Last month, we reported that Milwaukee Brewers LF Ryan Braun was leading the National League with 12 HRs and dared to speculate whether he might become the first Jewish home-run king since Cleveland Indians 3B Al Rosen in 1953. Braun, 27, didn’t hit another…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS –Israel and its fledgling baseball culture have never been invited to compete in the World Baseball Classic. But Team Israel will get a chance to earn its way there next year. WBC officials announced Wednesday (6/1/2011) that a newly-instituted qualifying round scheduled for late 2012 will give Israel and 11 other countries…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — It was Jew vs. Jew on Wednesday (6/1/2011) as the Tampa Bay Rays and LF Sam Fuld took on the Texas Rangers and 2B Ian Kinsler in St. Petersburg. Here’s how it went. Direct interactions Batting in the 3rd inning, Kinsler flied out to Fuld. After drawing a walk in the…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Sunday (5/29/2011) was Super Sam Fuld Cape Day at Tropicana Field, and the Tampa Bay Rays LF responded with characteristic scrappiness in a 7-0 rout of the Cleveland Indians. With two men on base in the 5th inning, Fuld legged out an infield hit to drive in one run. An errant…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — It’s been quite a while since a Jewish ballplayer won a major-league home run crown. Fifty-eight years, to be precise. The last to do it? Cleveland Indians 3B Al Rosen, whose 43 HRs led the American League in 1953. Today, Rosen is 87 years old, which is a pretty good measure…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Thanks to off-season surgery on his right knee, Texas Rangers P Scott Feldman has spent the 2011 season on the disabled list. But he may be turning the corner. On Saturday (5/14/2011), the 6-foot-6-inch starter pitched 5 strong innings for the “AA” Frisco RoughRiders in an 11-2 win over the Corpus…
Author: Robert Weintraub (web page) Published: 2011 Pages: 421 Price: $17.81 for hardcover (Amazon.com) Our rating: 4 stars (out of 5) Reviewed by Stuart M. Katz for Jewish Baseball News Overview It’s May of 2011, and the New York Yankees lead the major leagues in home runs, having twice hit five in a single game….
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Jason Marquis became the 5th Jewish pitcher to win 100 games on Tuesday (5/10/2011), leading the Washington Nationals to a 7-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves. Marquis, who spent the first 4 years of his MLB career with Atlanta, held the Braves to one run through the first 7 innings. He…
Author: Jonah Keri (web page; agent) Published: 2011 Pages: 272 Price: $15.85 for hardcover (Amazon.com) Our rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5) Reviewed by Jewish Baseball News Overview In the spirit of Michael Lewis’ 2004 classic Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game, Jonah Keri asks the question: How can a low-budget team compete…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — The good news is that all six Jewish non-pitchers in the MLB this season are on the 2011 All-Star ballot. The bad news? Two of the 6 are competing for a single slot. Kevin Youkilis of the Boston Red Sox and Danny Valencia of the Minnesota Twins are among 14 men…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Washington Nationals P Jason Marquis continued his remarkable turnaround Friday (4/29/2011) with a complete-game shutout against the San Francisco Giants. It was a win to savor: Marquis, 32, gave up no walks and just 5 hits while striking out 7 batters. The 3-0 victory came against two-time Cy Young Award winner…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Baseball fans will be able to cheer Israel, Sam Fuld, and the Tampa Bay Rays all at once on Sun., May 15. Thanks to the Rays and the JCC Suncoast JCC, Tropicana Field will host the team’s first-ever Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration, honoring Israel’s 62nd birthday. But time is running out to…
JEWISH BASEBALL NEWS — Voting began yesterday (4/26/2011) for the 2011 All-Star Game, and all 6 Jewish position players were on the ballot. The six include: Tampa Bay Rays OF Sam Fuld Milwaukee Brewers LF Ryan Braun New York Mets 1B Ike Davis Minnesota Twins 3B Danny Valencia Boston Red Sox 3B Kevin Youkilis Texas…
