Jews in Baseball's Centennial
By JESS SILVER
inc.)
With profesional baseball cele-
brating its centennial this year, a
look at the Jewish involvement in
the game seems in order. Although
the first all-professional team, the
Cincinnati Red Stockings, was
formed in 1869, the members of
that club were not the first to play
the game for money. The first man
to earn a salary as a baseball
player was Lipman (Lip) Pike, a
Jew from Brooklyn.
(Copyright 1969, JTA
38—Friday, April 4, 1969
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Barney Dreyfuss became the lar coach with the Brooklyn Dodg- THE ANCIENT PEOPLE
part-owner of the Louisville Col- ers for 11 years. He was a major
They are an ancient people, a
onels in 1888, and owner of the league infielder for the Pirates in
famous people, an enduring peo-
Pittsburgh Pirates in 1900. Dreyfuss 1917-18.
More recent major league execu- ple, and a people who in the end
owned and operated the Pirates
until his death in 1932. He produced tives include Bill Benswanger, have generally attained their ob-
AT THE NEW HOTEL
great teams in Pittsburgh, and in Pittsburgh Pirates; Gabe Paul, jects. I hope Parliament may en-
1903 originated the World Series Cincinnati Reds- and Cleveland In- dure forever, and sometimes I
when he allowed his team to meet dians; Jerry Hoffberger, Baltimore think it will; but I cannot help re-
Boston in a post-season match. Orioles; and Marvin Milkes, general membering that the Jews have
see your Travel Agent, or write direct
Dreyfuss was the National League's manager of the new Seattle Pilots. outlived Assyrian kings, Egyptian
BELLE ISLE, Venetian Causeway
first vice president and builder of
The ball players to keep your eye Pharaohs, Roman Caesars, and
Miami Beach, phone 305, 531-4621
the major league's first steel sta- on this season are Ken Holtzman, Arabian Caliphs.—Benjamin Dis-
dium, Forbes Field, ih 1909.
pitcher, Chicago Cubs; Mike Ep- raeli.
Pike appeared at third base for
New York City was represented stein, first baseman, Washington
the Philadelphia Athletics in 1866. by Andrew Freedman, who owned Senators; Art Shamsky, outfielder,
A left-handed batter, be became the New York Giants in 1894-1902. New York Mets; Norm Miller, out-
the game's first great slugger. He A controversial figure, Freedman fielder, Houston Astros; and Richie
hit six home runs in one game forced the National League to cut Schienblum, outfielder, Cleveland
against the Alerts in 1866. Pike down from 12 to eight teams; in- Indians.
played with the Irvington, N.J., troduced the two-umpire system in
ball team in 1867, and in the suc- the majors and hired John McGraw
ceeding years was with many to manage his team.
* *
teams in many cities across the
country.
Johnny Kling was the next great
He played with , the New York Jewish player on the major league
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Cincinnati Reds, 1877-78.
Other top Jewish players in the
OCEANS COME rear
In 1870, as a member of the 1900-1920 era were George Stone,
Atlantics, Pike participated in Barney Pelty, Erskine Mayer,
one of the most famous games 1 , Benny Kauff, Buddy Myer, Sammy
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the Cincinnati Reds 130-game win- Stone, an outfielder with the St.
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League batting champion with a
Pike was the captain of the .358 average in 1906. Pelty pitched
teams (there were no managers at for the St. Louis Browns in 1903-12.
the time) in Irvington, Troy, Hart- Mayer was a 20-game winner for
ford and Cincinnati. In 1877 Pike the Philadelphia Phillies in 1914
became the National League's sec- and 1915. The Phillies were the
National League champions in 1915.
ond home run champibn.
Kauff was the Federal League's
He finally quit baseball in 1881
and became a haberdasher in leading hitter in 1914-15. An out-
If you have the idea that electric
Brooklyn. Pike attempted a come- fielder, he later played with the
heat is too rich for your blood,
New
York
Giants.
Myer,
an
out-
back in 1887, but one game with
you'd be surprised at the number
the New York Mets convinced him fielder for the Washington Senators,
of average people who are put-
to retire again. He was 48 years led the American League in batting'
with
a
.349
average
in
1935.
old when he died in 1893.
ting it in their homes.
Al Schacht, who pitched for the
During most of his career, Pike
Their present homes.
was an .outfielder and considered Washington Senators in 1919-21,
You'd find—just like they — a
the fastest man in the game. He later became famous as the Clown
cleaner house than you've ever
batted over .300 in five of his eight Prince of Baseball. He appeared in
ballparks all around the country.
experienced. A quiet, even heat,
years in the major leagues.
Club officials of the 1900-20 era
completely worry-free. It's also
While Pike was the most not-
able Jewish figure in baseball in were Julius and Max Fleischman
more comfortable—never desert
the early era, he wasn't the only with the Cincinnati Reds; Harry
dry.
one. Besides Pike, the best play- j Grabiner, vice president and gen- ,
If you'd like a no-obligation
ers prior to 1900 were Billy Nash, eral manager of the Chicago White
estimate on installation and oper-
James (Chief) Roseman and Dan Sox and Cleveland Indians; Leo
Bondy,
vice
president
of
the
New
Sterns. An outfielder, first base-
ating cost, call us for the name
man and pitcher, Roseman play- York Giants Sid Weil, owner of
of an Edison Approved Electric
ed for various clubs in 1882-90. the Cincinnati Reds in 1929-33 and
Heat Contractor near you.
He was a member of the Pennant- Judge Emil'Fuchs, who owned the
Don't wait for your next house
winning New York nets of the Boston Braves in 1923-35. He man- I
to enjoy electric heat. You can
American Association in 1884. aged the club in 1929. •
Modern
major
league
baseball
Roseman managed St. Louis in '
afford it right now. Honest.
hired its first Jewish umpire in
1890.
1928. Albert "Dolly" Stark was one
Sterns played just about every of the best. He retired in 1942.
"This big old farmhouse
position. but was primarily a first
Hank Greenberg came up with
of ours has electric heat,"
baseman. He. too, played on many the Detroit Tigers for the first time
said Albert Foege of
teams in 1880-89, and was with the in 1930. The big slugger led the
Plymouth. "We heat both
Cincinnati Reds who won the first Tigers to four American League
floors—nine big rooms-
American Association pennant in pennants and two World Series tri-
', and the cost is cheap.
1882. Nash, whom the Sporting umphs. He was the American
Runs us only
News called a Jew in 1890, appeared League home run champion three
a little over
in 1,541 major league games as an times, including 58 in 1938, and led
' $300 a year."
infielder in 1884-98. He played on the A.L. in RBI's four times.
four pennant-winning teams, 1890-
The only Jew in baseball's Hall
93, in Boston. Nash also managed
of Fame, Greenberg was the
the Philadelphia Phillies in 1896.
American
League's Most Valu-
Other Jews of the era who man-
able Player as a first baseman
aged in the major leagues were:
and
outfielder.
He became a vice
Jacob Morse (he became a great
president and general manager
sports writer in Boston), Boston of
of the Cleveland Indians and Chi-
the Union League, 1884; Ben Fine,
cago White Sox after he finished
St. Louis, 1885, and Louis Heilbron-
as an active player.
ner, St. Louis, 1900. Heilbronner
formed baseball's first statistical
The best of the Jewish major
leaguers since 1930 have been Cal
bureau in 1909.
r * *
Abrams, outfielder; Morris Arno-
The early executives included f vich, outfielder; Harry Danning,
Edgar Mayer Johnson, secretary of 1 catcher; Joe Ginsberg, catcher; Sid
the Cincinnati Reds in 1877-80. He Gordon, outfielder-third baseman;
was related to the first Jewish set- Barry Latman, pitcher; Saul Rogo-
tler in Cincinnati. Cincinnati pro- vin, pitcher; Goody Rosen, out-
duced three more: Nathan Mender- fielder; Al Rosen, third baseman
son, president of the Reds in 1880; who won the American League's
Louis Kramer, a part-owner of the Most Valuable Player award in
Reds; and Aaron Stern, who owned 1953; Larry and Norm Sherry,
the American Association team in pitcher and cather, (Larry was the
1882-90. Stern is credited with popu- hero of the 1959 World Series); and,
larizing Ladies' Day: Kramer and of course, Sandy Klufax who should
Stern helped found the major league be the second Jew to make the Hall
American Association, and Kramer of Fame.
Jacob "Jake" Pitler was a popu-
served as its president in 1891.
la D O NA
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