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BUZ HOLZMAN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

PHOTOS BY BUZ HOLZMAN

Question: Who was the
only Jewish Major League
baseball player who grew up
in Detroit and played for the
Detroit Tigers?

Answer: Myron 'Joe"
Ginsberg.

League. He enjoyed a 13-year Major League ca-
reer, playing for seven different teams: the De-
troit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, Kansas City
Athletics, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox,
Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets.
"I was very proud to be the only Jewish kid
to grow up in Detroit and make it in the big
Leagues, especially for my home-
town Detroit Tigers," said Mr.
Ginsberg.
He grew up first on Clements
Ave. near Dexter and then, when
his family became financially
strapped during the Depression,
moved to the west side of Detroit
on Terry St. in the Cooley High
School area.
"I grew up with a bat and ball
in my hand, from the time I was
4 years old. All I did was throw
balls against the wall, play catch
and hit balls. I practiced con-
stantly," he said.
He played varsity basketball
and baseball at Cooley High. At
16, he was named to the all-city,
all-star game played annually at
Briggs Stadium, now Tiger Sta-
dium.
"Cass Michaels played on the
same team with me," said Mr.
Ginsberg. Cass went on to star
with the Chicago White Sox. I
played third base and catcher
back then, but I knew Cass was
a much better third baseman
than me, so I concentrated on
catching."
In 1944, the chief local scout for
the Detroit Tigers, Wish Egan,
saw Joe play in one of the Amer-
ican Legion sandlot games. The
scout signed all of the great play-
ers from Detroit then, including
Hal Newhouser, Barney Mc-
Coskey, Ted Grey and Billy Pierce.
Above: Joe Ginsberg at the 1995 Detroit Tiger
He also signed Joe Ginsberg, age
Fantasy Camp in Lakeland, Florida.
17.
Left: The young Joe Ginsberg
"They sent me to Jamestown,
as a Major League catcher.
N.Y., in the PONY League," re-
There he was behind home called Mr. Ginsberg, who was paid $100 a month.
plate, looking as fit as when he PONY stood for Pennsylvania, Ontario and New
played in the late 1940s York.
World War II interrupted Mr. Ginsberg's ca-
through early '60s. The ball
smacked into his glove as he reer, and he was sent overseas to the Philippine
smoothly flicked it back to his Islands. When the Army discovered he was a
pitcher for another warm-up. baseball player, he was transferred to Manila to
Joe played for the Detroit play on a special-services team. The team was
Tigers from 1950-1954 and headed by Early Wynn, who later became an All-
was regarded as one of the best Star in the American League.
At the age of 21, Mr. Ginsberg was discharged
defensive catchers in the
from the Army. He came home to play baseball
Buz Holzman is a professional
with the Detroit Tigers organization in 1947. They
photographer in Farmington
sent him to the Class A Eastern League in Penn-
Hills and a baseball
JOE page 72
aficionado.

ast February, Myron "Joe" Ginsberg par-
ticipated, with other former Detroit Tiger
baseball players, at a fantasy camp held
in Lakeland, Fla., home of the spring-
training facility of the Detroit team. As camp pho-
tographer, I had the opportunity to meet him and
watch him in action.

STYLE • sumErAER 1995

• 71