Page Nineteen

THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, April 23, 1948

Watch These Major. 1948
Jewish Baseball Stars

By HAROLD U. RIBALOW
Author of "The Jew In American Sports"

Copyright, 1948 . Independent Jewish Press Service, Inc. •

•

games, an entire schedule, Cal
obtained 208 hits, which is steady,
spectacular batting in any league.
Born in Philadelphia, Abrams is
a tall rangy athlete. He weighs
170, and is six-feet tall. He might
not last long in the majors, this
year, but he is a boy with a good
baseball future. _
Outside of the above there are
few other Jewish baseballers of
note. Cr.. Block, at 28 has had
many chances with the Cubs and
didn't make the grade, though he
hit .360 in the minors 'last year
and led his league in ddubtes with
60. He is getting a chance this
season with the Detroit Tigers
who need new blood in. the in-
field.
"Play Ball!"
TheSe, then; are the Jews in the
majors this year. Not many, not
particularly spectacular, but all
bear watching. Greenberg, as an
owner, joins such previous Jewish
owners as Judge Emil Fuchs of
the Boston Braves, the Benswan-
gers of Pittsburgh and such eicec-
utives as Harry Grabiner, once of
the White Sox, now of the In-
dians.
The call is "Play Ball!" The
men to watch are Abrams and
Rosen and Gordon.

' Now that another baseball sea- these boys falter, Sid will be
son is with us, it is interesting for more than ready to fill the breach.
Jewish fans to observe which of And if Jack Lohrke at third can't
their compatriots will win major hit—as he couldn't last season—
league headlines during the 1948 Sid will be in the infield. A few
pennant chase. There is no deny- seasons badk, the Giants had four
ing the fact that baseball fans are Jewish players in the lineup on
among the most intense in the na- one afternoon. Now. only Gor-
tion and that the Hank Green- don .is there. Giant fans in _New
bergs, the Harry Dannings and York should follow him closely.
the Johnny 'Clings- of yesteryear He ,can play ball.
won the plaudits of the entire Abram of "Dem Bums'."'
Once upon a time the Brooklyn
Sporting world and the proud ad-
Dodgers had a JewiSh -.player
Miration of their fellow Jews.
This year—as in the past few named Freddy Sington, who
seasons—there are few Jewish couldn't hit a curve ball.. Then
baseball heroes in the majors. At they had Goody Rosen, who was
one time there were such stal- traded to the Giants after having
warts as Hank Greenberg, Harry enjoyed a fine year. Goody is now
Danning, Buddy Myer, Dolly in the minors. But the Dodgers
Stark, Moe Berg, .Goody . Rosen, have come up with ahother Jew-
and .a few others who came up ish boy, Cal Abrams, an outfield-
and down the big league trail, all er. Only 24, yoUng Cal batted .345
at one and the. same. time. The last year with Mobile and comes
Jewish diamond aces were top to the Dodgers- highly recom-
men and they had large fkillow- mended as a ball hawk. In 154
ings.
Few Jews On The Diamond
By Jack Sorcis
PROSPECT -
In spite of the famous reputa-
tions of many Jewish stars, there
have been comparatively few
Jews starring at the. game; Think
it through a.. moment. There are
400 major leaguers employed each
season. Baseball is more than 100
yearS old. Yet- not more than 60
Jews have made the big league
grade; including those who had a
brief whirl at it and sank back
into obscurity.
■ i..-=But Some Of The Best
.It is true that the Jewish top-
flotchers were men who belonged
at. the top. Kling ranks with the
'three or four best catchers the
game has known. Hank Green-
berg is acknowledged to be one
of the most fearless right-handed
hitterS in baseball history. Dolly
Stark, together with Bill Klem,
was a great umpire. Buddy Myer
won a batting. crown.
The Picture Now
What do we have this season?
Hank Greenberg, on his way out
as an active player, after a dis-
appointing season with Pittsburgh
last year, is back in the headlines.
Uncertain as to his future, Hank
bought stock in the Cleveland
Indian club and is now.the second
largest stockholder in the "Tribe."
He claims he won't play unless his
services are required. Consider-
ing that . Cleveland has a first base
problem - it is not unlikely that
Hank will be hitting homers
again this season ; but the fanious
Greenberg career is near its end.
Al Rosen of the Indians
Cleveland, however, has a
promising rookie named Al Rosen
91,-AIEL,
who may make the big leagtie
AL-
(1
Aig2 Fog 6W
grade. A third baseman, Rosen
ot4,As-koMA GK./
Lev -fAe-'
has a pretty good .charice of beat-
(eAth ed-ftmi
LEAeOe Arnihteviri4 .
tiztv 14-g
ing out the veteran Ken Kellner.
Apt merAere (1.3494 fka WAS
Al was born in Spartanburg, S.C.,
001'FLEVY WrrA.
Al/So TOPS BASE 1tTs 5-X< RA
drikr4a ,---- -1'06 ""riZti3
23 years ago. In 146 - games he
OASES, potiet,es AAP eLIAS
batted .349, making 186 safe hits
'13A-r-fer, tit
and totaling 330 bases, which re-'
veals a lot of power. A solidly
built right-handed batter, Al is
supposed to . be a boy. who can't
miss. The only other Jewish play-
er we can recall playing for
Cleveland was Milt Galatzer, a
smooth-fielding weak-hitting out-
fielder, who was the son Jf a rab-
bi. Now with Rosen on the squad
and Greenberg behind an execu-
tive desk, and possibly at first
ONE PERSON OUT OF EVERY 60 WHO BUYS THEIR
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ea
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