and studying, he went on a trip to
Hungary to visit a girl and decided
to see what coaching jobs were out
there. The Hungarian Baseball website
was, of course, in Hungarian, so his
girl contacted a few people and he
got an interview.
When he told the team he was
playing for the Netherlands and
showed their best player his 80 mph
breaking ball, they said they wanted
him to coach the team.
"Just pay for my trip every time and
I'll do it," he said.
"The next year I went back and
played in Germany on the weekends.
During the week, I'd fly into Budapest
and do training with the players, fly
back to Hamburg, take a law exam
or whatever, take a train to the
Netherlands, do some scouting for the
Astros, then go pitch my game," he
said. "Obviously, my game suffered."
While many American players
would take their time off to party and
play video games, Justin's work ethic
prevailed.
"For me it's like: Why not have the
chance to explore as many places as
possible and develop players where
you can have a huge impact on the
game?" he said.
His proud father agrees.
"He's a special type of young man
who gives from his heart," said his
father, Jay. He works hard, coaching
or playing. On off days, he's traveling
to small towns to teach young kids
how to play baseball and promote the
sport."
Jay said he followed his son's
games on the Internet, sometimes
waking up at 3 a.m. to catch a game
from Europe.
Justin's "Grandpa Al" is also a big
fan.
"He knows what he's doing. He
never had anybody help him out, even
the coaches. He just needs a little
more luck, somebody to back him
up a little bit," said Al, who owned
Prinstein Bros. Produce at Eastern
Market for 60 years. "He's a fine
young man."
Justin loves coaching younger
European players, who "basically have
to beg teachers to let you off from
school for a day to play," he said.
"If it was soccer, you are the golden
child, but baseball, you definitely have
to work harder."
He also wants to get baseball
academies back into the inner city of
Detroit —and is pulling every MLB
and D.C. connection he's made to get
it done.
"Kids who aren't big enough for
football or tall enough for basketball
might be able to play baseball," he
said. "You're born with athleticism;
you can work on baseball skills."
Justin said he plans to play the
game for one more year, then return
to Detroit to get involved in city/state
government. And urban development.
And take the Michigan Bar Exam.
And ...
11111
Call our Purim
Hotline at
248/357-5544 ext. 26
with your RSVP
no later than
Thursday, February 21
and you will be
automatically entered
into a drawing to
win a $250 American
Express Gift Card.
Generation to Generation
PURIM
NIGHT
FEVER!
Saturday, February 23
6:15 p.m.
Family Purim Shpiel
Come dressed in your
costumes for our Purim Shpiel
and learn how Queen Esther
saved the Jews!
** Support Yad Ezra by bringing an
unopened box of pasta to shake as a
grogger and donate at the end of the
service! **
7:00 p.m.
Purim Extravaganza!
Take your photo with Big Bird!
Carnival Games, Pebbles the
Clown, Slot Car
Racing, Inflatables,
Face Painting,
Dancing with Star
Trax and More!
❑
Justin Prinstein Timeline
• North Farmington H.S.: 1998-2002
• Albion College: 2002-2004
• George Washington University: 2004-06
• Hoboken Pioneers (Belgium) March -May 2007
• Netanya Tigers (Israel) June-August 2007
• Washington D.C. (2006 & part of 2007 off seasons)
• Southern Districts Hawks (South Australia): Winter Ball 2007-08
• Tex Town Tigers (Netherlands): 2008
• Off-Season 2008: Detroit (law school)
• Almere Magpies (Netherlands): 2009
• West Stirling Indians (Perth Western Australia): Winter Ball 2009-10
• European scout for Houston Astros: 2009-2010
• Almere Magpies (Netherlands): March-July 2010
• H.S.V. (Hamburg) Stealers (Germany): August 2010
• Off-season 2010: Detroit (law school)
• Hungary National Team (Budapest) April-July 2011 (part-time)
• H.S.V. Hamburg Stealers (Germany): April-June 2011 (full-time)
• Return to law school in Detroit: August 2011
• Janossomorja Rascals (Hungary): August-September 2011
for Inter-League playoffs
• Off-season 2011: Detroit (law school)
• Hungary National Team (Budapest): April-August 2012 (full-time)
• Janossomorja Rascals (Hungary): April-July 2012 (part-time)
• Off-season 2012: Detroit
• Hrosi Brno Hippos (Czech Republic): starting March 2013
—
SHAAREY ZEDEK
— CONGREGATION
7:30 p.m.
Megillah Reading
Evening service and an
interactive reading in the Chapel!
HEY
KIDS!
I
Redeem this
I coupon at the
I Purim
Extravaganza
I and receive
10 FREE
PRIZE TICKETS!
All Purim festivities are
generously sponsored
by the
Sidney Katzman
Memorial Purim Fund
8:30 p.m.
Adults!
Join us for a Comedy
Performance by Modi
Voted one of the Top 10
Comedians in New York
City by Hollywood
Reporter as well as
BackStage, Modi is a
presence on stage,
television and the silver screen.
27375 BELL ROAD, SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN 48034
248/357-5544 • PURIM@SHAAREYZEDEK.ORG
1813910
February 21 • 2013
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