Jewish Major Leaguers in Their Own Words: Oral Histories of 23 Players

As of the 2010 season, 15 Jewish players were on Major League Baseball rosters, a distinction ascribed to only 165 men between 1870 and 2010. In this niche collection of rambling oral histories, 23 former (and many now-deceased) Jewish players discuss their childhoods, their careers, and the impact their religious heritage had on their time spent playing America's favorite pastime. Anti-Semitism once ran deep among ballplayers and fans, although Harry Danning of the New York Giants admitted African-Americans suffered worse treatment. Hank Greenberg, who spent most of his long career with the Detroit Tigers, "was a hero to Jewish and non-Jewish fans alike" for sitting out a game on Yom Kippur in 1934, but journeyman Saul Rogovin, who played during the 50s, confided he never felt accepted among his peers. Elliott Maddox explains his decision as an African-American to convert to Judaism during his playing days in the 70s, while Jose Bautista, who last played in 1997, is indifferent to religious affiliation, maintaining that "We're all the same." Ephross, former editor for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, pared down the lengthy interviews (conducted by numerous journalists) and converted them from Q&A format to first person narratives, making for an easy read. However, notable players like Sandy Koufax, National League MVP Ryan Braun, and three-time All-Star Kevin Youkilis are unfortunately missing. B/W photos. (Mar.)