American Jews and America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball

by Larry Ruttman, Martin Abramowitz (Introduction), Allan H Selig (Foreword by)

Overview

Most fans don't know how far the Jewish presence in baseball extends beyond a few famous players such as Greenberg, Rosen, Koufax, Holtzman, Green, Ausmus, Youkilis, Braun, and Kinsler. In fact, that presence extends to the baseball commissioner Bud Selig, labor leaders Marvin Miller and Don Fehr, owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Stuart Sternberg, officials Theo Epstein and Mark Shapiro, sportswriters Murray Chass, Ross Newhan, Ira Berkow, and Roger Kahn, and even famous Jewish baseball fans like Alan Dershowitz and Barney Frank. 

The life stories of these and many others, on and off the field, have been compiled from nearly fifty in-depth interviews and arranged by decade in this edifying and entertaining work of oral and cultural history. In American Jews and America's Game each person talks about growing up Jewish and dealing with Jewish identity, assimilation, intermarriage, future viability, religious observance, anti-Semitism, and Israel. Each tells about being in the midst of the colorful pantheon of players who, over the past seventy-five years or more, have made baseball what it is. Their stories tell, as no previous book has, the history of the larger-than-life role of Jews in America's pastime.

Larry Ruttman, a Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society, is the author of Voices of Brookline. He has practiced law in Boston for more than fifty years and produces and hosts a television interview show in his hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780803264755
Publisher:	Nebraska
Publication date:	04/01/2013
Pages:	544
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 1.90(d)

About the Author

Larry Ruttman, Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society, is the author of Voices of Brookline, a national finalist for the Award of Merit of the American Association of State and Local History. He has practiced law in Boston for more than fifty years and produces and hosts a television interview show in his hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations xi

Foreword Allan H. "Bud" Selig xv

Preface xxi

Acknowledgments xxix

Introduction Martin Abramowitz 1

The 1930s

Henry "Hank" Greenberg: Hall of Fame Infielder and Outfielder, Revealing the Survival of American Judaism Generation by Generation 9

The 1940s

Thelma "Tiby" Eisen and Anita Foss: Baseball Players and Pioneers for Women's Rights, in a League of Their Own 35

Dr. Martin Abramowitz: Originator of Jewish Major Leaguers Baseball Cards 47

Barney Frank: Fan and Congressman 55

The 1950s

Al Rosen: First-Ever Unanimous Most Valuable Player Selection, the Luckiest Jew Alive 67

Alan Dershowitz: From Avi the Bum and Ballplayer to Alan the Professor, Defender, and Civil libertarian 79

Sol Gittleman: First-Generation Jewish American, Realizing the American Dream 91

Howard Goldstein, Esquire: Jewish Baseball Memorabilia Collector, Preserving Memory Jewish-Style 103

Roger Kahn: Author of the Classic Baseball Book The Boys of Summer 113

The 1960s

Sandy Koufax: Pitcher Nonpareil and Perfect Gentleman 127

Murray Chass: Hall of Fame New York Times Scribe 137

Ira Berkow: New York Times Journalist, Author, Pulitzer Prize Winner, and Jewish Son 147

Rabbi Michael Paley: Unorthodox Orthodox Rabbi 157

Art Shamsky: Hank Greenberg Redux 169

Ross Newhan and David Newhan: Hall of Fame Sports Scribe and Major League Baseball Player, Father and Son 177

The 1970s

Marvin Miller: Baseball Game Changer and Former Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association 193

Ken Holtzman: Winningest Jewish Major League Pitcher Ever, Observant Jew 211

Ronald Shapiro and Mark Shapiro: Father and Son, the Merging of Judaism into America 223

Ron Blomberg: Designated Hebrew 241

Marty Appel: Former New York Yankees Public Relations Director 247

Joel Mael: Vice Chairman of the Florida Marlins, Orthodox Jew 257

Elliott Maddox: Major League Outfielder, Black Convert to Judaism 267

The 1980s

Donald Fehr: Former Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association 281

Jerry Reinsdorf: Owner of the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls 293

Steve Hertz: Major League Infielder, Legendary College Coach 305

Al Clark: Longtime Major League Umpire, Fallen and Redeemed 313

The 1990s

Allan H. "Bud" Selig: Innovative and Controversial Commissioner of Major League Baseball 325

Jeffrey Maier: Fan and Tenth Player 337

Andrew Zimbalist: Baseball's Economist 345

Leon Feingold: Israel Baseball League Player of the Year, Jewish Physical and Mental Giant 355

Alan Schwarz: New York Times Columnist and Author 367

Marvin Goldklang: Multiple Minor League Team Owner and Baseball Man of Influence 377

Brad Ausmus: Gold Glove Catcher 387

Randy Levine: President of the New York Yankees 393

The 2000s

Theo Epstein: The Youngest General Manager in Major League Baseball History 403

Gabe Kapler: Major League Outfielder and Minor League Manager 411

Craig Breslow: Major League Relief Pitcher, Yale University Graduate 421

Jeffrey Gurock: Professor of Jewish History at Yeshiva University, Orthodox Jew, and Sportsman 429

Stuart Sternberg: From Canarsie to Tampa Bay by Way of Wall Street 439

Kevin Youkilis: Euclis, the Greek God of Walks 449

The 2010s

Darren Harrison-Panis: On Course to Be a Major League Baseball Owner 459

"Superman" Sam Fuld: Outfielder Nonpareil 473

Ian Kinsler: Major League All-Star Second Baseman 481

Selected Bibliography 493

Index 499

What People are Saying About This

Jonathan D. Sarna

“There may well be more books about Jews and baseball than there are Jews who played professional baseball. But this one is different. Here baseball’s most interesting Jews speak in their own words about their lives, their love of the game, and above all about their Judaism. Informative, inspiring, historically significant, and a pleasure to read, this is a book that anybody who cares about America’s game or America’s Jews will cherish.”—Jonathan D. Sarna, author of American Judaism: A History and chief historian of the National Museum of American Jewish History

Allan H. Bud Selig

“The historian Jacques Barzun was right when he said, ‘Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.’ Larry Ruttman knows that too, and that is why I chose to write this Foreword to his book American Jews and America's Game. His stories cover almost one hundred years of American history and the place of American Jews in that history. . . . This is a book that celebrates family—baseball’s, yours, and mine.”—from the foreword by Allan H. “Bud” Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball

Editorial Reviews

“The historian Jacques Barzun was right when he said, ‘Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.’ Larry Ruttman knows that too, and that is why I chose to write this Foreword to his book American Jews and America's Game. His stories cover almost one hundred years of American history and the place of American Jews in that history. . . . This is a book that celebrates family—baseball’s, yours, and mine.”—from the foreword by Allan H. “Bud” Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball

Allan H. Bud Selig

"American Jews and America's Game is a highly personal, heartfelt collaborative exploration between the interviewer, his subject and its participants and devotees."—Andrew P. Fleischer, Jewish Journal

Jewish Journal - Andrew P. Fleischer

"[American Jews and America's Game is] a tremendous piece of work, and we're lucky to have it."—Rob Neyer, Baseballnation.com

Baseballnation.com - Rob Neyer

"When Ruttman describes his excitement at sitting with Ian Kinsler in the visitors' dugout at Fenway Park or receiving a phone call from Sandy Koufax, readers will share Ruttman's sense of wonder and joy. . . . This is a personal book, one man's immensely gratifying project."—Maron L. Waxman, Jewish Book Council

Jewish Book Council - Maron L. Waxman

"American Jews and America's Game is a highly personal, heartfelt collaborative exploration between the interviewer, his subject and its participants and devotees."—Adrew P. Fleischer, Jewish Journal

Jewish Journal - Adrew P. Fleischer

"[American Jews and America's Game is an] edifying and entertaining work of oral and cultural history."—Jewish Book Council

Jewish Book Council

This book of intimate and revealing conversations with Jews who care passionately about baseball is a surprise and delight. . . . In the tradition of Studs Terkel, Ruttman’s warm and folksy style lets us feel like we’re in the room with them as they share their thoughts and feelings about Judaism, baseball, and life. It’s a great read. Ruttman has a gift for bringing people out and the results are fabulous.”—Rabbi Rebecca T. Alpert, associate professor of religion at Temple University and author of Out of Left Field: Jews and Black Baseball

Rabbi Rebecca T. Alpert

“American Jews And America’s Game is as much cultural history as it is baseball, and there is nothing quite comparable.”—Sol Gittleman, Tufts University former provost and professor, and author of Reynolds, Raschi and Lopat: New York’s Big Three and the Great Yankee Dynasty of 1949–1953

Sol Gittleman

“There may well be more books about Jews and baseball than there are Jews who played professional baseball. But this one is different. Here baseball’s most interesting Jews speak in their own words about their lives, their love of the game, and above all about their Judaism. Informative, inspiring, historically significant, and a pleasure to read, this is a book that anybody who cares about America’s game or America’s Jews will cherish.”—Jonathan D. Sarna, author of American Judaism: A History and chief historian of the National Museum of American Jewish History

Jonathan D. Sarna

[These] stories are a unique mix of baseball and reflection on [the interviewees’] lives as Jews. . . . These interviewees are for the most part conscious of the fact that although [their] values do in fact have roots in Judaism, they are also deeply rooted in the best of America’s culture and the American self-image.”—from the introduction by Martin Abramowitz, President of Jewish Major Leaguers, Inc.

Martin Abramowitz

American Jews and America’s Game is a highly accessible book about the game America’s Jews love to love. The author allows his subjects great latitude to comment on their Jewishness and their association with the game. The interviewees range from baseball’s best to ordinary fans, united around their faith and favorite sport. This is an enjoyable read.”—Daniel Kurtzer, former U.S. ambassador to Egypt and Israel and the first commissioner of the Israel Baseball League

Daniel Kurtzer

"This book of intimate and revealing conversations with Jews who care passionately about baseball is a surprise and delight. . . . In the tradition of Studs Terkel, Ruttman’s warm and folksy style lets us feel like we’re in the room with them as they share their thoughts and feelings about Judaism, baseball, and life. It’s a great read. Ruttman has a gift for bringing people out and the results are fabulous."—Rabbi Rebecca T. Alpert, associate professor of religion at Temple University and author of Out of Left Field: Jews and Black Baseball

Rabbi - Rebecca T. Alpert

Jews have played a key role in baseball history, as has been frequently noted. There is now a celebratory tone to the topic, and this book is firmly within the new tradition. It presents chapter-length profiles of notable Jews involved with the sport (e.g., Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax, Bud Selig) The profiles are arranged by decade, from the 1930s to the present, and include not only the well known players and executives, but unexpected entries, such as notable fan and former Congressman Barney Frank. Current stars include Ian Kinsler and Kevin Youkilis.
VERDICT This is more a book to dip into than to read cover to cover. Some of the entries are home runs, such as the one on labor lawyer Marvin Miller, while others are bunt singles at best. For more in-depth and comprehensive coverage turn to the standard, two-volume Jews and Baseball , by Burton A. Boxerman and Benita W. Boxerman. —PK

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Library Journal

An idiosyncratic collection of interviews with American Jews on, off and some barely near the field of baseball. By interviewing the descendants of Hank Greenberg, baseball's first Jewish superstar, and contemporaries of the famously reclusive Sandy Koufax, Ruttman (Voices of Brookline, 2005) checks off the two most important names on anyone's list of Jews who have made a mark in the national pastime. Of course, there's room for plenty more: MVP Al Rosen; Ken Holtzman, the Jewish pitcher with the most career wins; Ron Blomberg, the game's first designated hitter; today's stars like Kevin Youkilis and Ian Kinsler. Surely there's a place among these pages for baseball executives like Commissioner Bud Selig (who provides the foreword), owner Jerry Reinsdorf, longtime front-office man Randy Levine, and the youngest GM ever, Theo Epstein. It's also easy to make a case for many of the talented Jewish writers who've memorably covered the game, among them Ira Berkow, Roger Kahn and Murray Chass. More than a few of Ruttman's choices are eccentric, but prove worthy inclusions: for example, two women from the defunct All-American Girls Professional Baseball League or the man who came up with the idea of Jewish baseball cards. However, by the time the author gets around to Jeffrey Maier, who as a 12-year-old authored a tiny footnote by interfering with a ball in play during the 1996 ALCS, and certainly to the likes of merely well-known fans Barney Frank and Alan Dershowitz, Ruttman stretches the notion of Jewish "voices" in baseball about as far as it can go. Nevertheless, this longtime attorney remains a gentle, always enthusiastic questioner, interested in his subjects' love for the game, their experiences with anti-Semitism and their connection to their faith. Other subjects include Marvin Miller, Marty Appel, Donald Fehr and Gabe Kapler. Almost always charming, occasionally enlightening and sometimes just plain odd.

Kirkus Reviews