My All Time Jewish All Stars
At the risk of writing anything these days that moves along ethnic lines, I’m still proud to present my all time Jewish All Stars in a starting lineup. It wasn’t that hard to pick these guys out. Most of the older ones were also players that I followed as a kid and young man without regard for their race, color, or creed. I mean, really! How tough is picking out three Hall of Famers at pitcher, first base, and shortstop, a catcher who was brilliant enough also to have served in the dual role of spy for our government in team trips to Japan prior to World War II, a third baseman who whacked the American League silly for ten seasons, a nifty ex-Dodger in center field, a slugging nobody’s fool in left field, and two more recent stars in right field and second base? Geez Us! This one was a piece of cake. – Yeah, I know. Boudreau’s mother alone was Jewish, but if she was good enough for Lou, she’s certainly good enough for the rest of us in making Lou a qualified member of this special club.
The other thing I like about this club? You can put ’em on the field everyday and never have to worry about anybody doing anything dumb.
That being said, here they are:
Ian Kinsler, 2b
Lou Boudreau, ss
Al Rosen, 3b
Hank Greenberg, 1b
Sid Gordon, lf
Shawn Greene, rf
Cal Abrams, cf
Mo Berg, c
Sandy Koufax, p
Oh yeah, here’s my one back-up hedge. If Berg can’t go at catcher, or if he has other work to do that he might not be free to discuss with the rest of us, I’ll have Brad Ausmus lined up to take over behind the plate without missing a beat – and probably adding a little on defense too.
The Pecan Park Eagle 
September 21, 2009 at 2:02 pm |
My all time hero is Sandy Koufax.
September 24, 2009 at 6:21 pm |
You could do a lot better than Cal Abrams or Sid Gordon in the outfield. From 1871 through 1881, Lipman “Lip” Pike battered National Association and National League pitchers for a cool .323 lifetime average, on the way to becoming the first Jewish major-league star.
September 26, 2009 at 4:53 am |
Hi Bill, I suppose that this response could be considered “a dollar short and a day late” but I’ve been out of town, without Internet access, and am just catching up on emails.
Thanks for mentioning one of my all-time favorites, Morris (Moe) Berg. Originally an infielder with the 1923 Brooklyn Robins, Berg would return to the majors in 1926 with the Chicago White Sox. Pressed into duty as a catcher in 1927 when 3 White Sox catchers were injured in the span of 7 days, Berg would go on to to play another 12 seasons with the White Sox, Cleveland Indians (two stints), Washington Senators and Boston Red Sox, ending his playing days in 1939. Moe’s well known mastery of languages (He was fluent in 7 to 14 different languages, depending on your reference.) and his classical education led to Moe serving in the OSS during World War II. There are at least 3 books that I’m aware of that have been written about him. How many other career .243 hitters with 6 career home runs have that distinction?
I’m in total agreement with your selection of Hank Greenberg at 1st but would be remiss if I didn’t make honorable mention Mike Epstein. Epstein would debut with the 1966 Baltimore Orioles and spend 1967 through a portion of 1971 with the Washington Senators. Career-wise his best year came in 1969 when he hit .278 with 30 home runs as the expansion Senators had their only above .500 season. Epstein would go on to play for the Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers and California Angels. Epstein was given the nickname “Superjew” while in playing in the California League but he seemed to wear the distinction with pride during his time in Washington.
November 14, 2009 at 10:15 pm |
I want to second Lip Pike in center field. He was the fastest player of his time, and held the career home run record from 1872 through 1879.