Now At Bat from page 59

"In a way, it's a reflection of our
54 home runs, 260 RBIs and 32 sto-
society," said Marty Appel, the cards'
len bases were in keeping with the 1
publicist. More and more kids are
percent of all players (slightly high-
coming from intermarried families,
er). The four pitchers had a combined
he said, giving rise to a growing num- 3.60 ERA (all players were at 3.87)
ber of kids playing sports who may
while compiling a 26-20 record. This
be identifying as Jewish.
"attests to modestly superior perfor-
But even the creator of the cards
mance by the Class of 2013," reports
wonders the same thing. "Your guess
the card back.
is as good as mine," said
When the original
Abramowitz. "I suspect it
edition of Jewish Major
has something to do with
Leaguer Baseball Cards was
the fact that this is an
researched and released in
extremely lucrative sport:'
2001, there were approxi-
in contrast to the way it
mately 160 Jewish players
used to be.
in history, out of some
"When I was a kid, play-
17,000 total. And those 160
ers like Phil Rizzuto and
players slightly out-per-
Roy Campanella worked
formed the total field in just
in clothing or liquor stores
about every key category
during the off-season," he
except stolen bases.
said.
Hank Greenberg remains
Jew ish
'Also, college is now the
the
career Jewish leader in
Ma jor
Leag uers
major recruitment source
average (.313), home runs
for Major League Baseball,
(331) and RBIs (1,276),
and our guys are more likely
with Shawn Green fall-
to go to college
ing just three home runs
Appel noted that this
behind him. Ryan Braun
year's Opening Day rosters
has a career average of
in Major League Baseball
.312. The stat cards in this
find nine Jewish players and
year's edition show Buddy
one manager listed. The
Myer as the leader in hits.
year's players include Ryan
Among pitchers, Ken
Braun (Milwaukee), Craig
Holtzman has the most
Breslow (Boston), Ike Davis
wins (174 to Sandy
(New York Mets), Scott
Koufax's 165), Barney Pelty
Feldman (Houston), Sam
the lowest ERA (2.62 to
Fuld (Oakland), Ian Kinsler
Koufax's 2.76), Koufax the
(Detroit), Josh Satin (New
most strikeouts (2,396) and
York Mets), Danny Valencia (Kansas
Scott Schoeneweis the most appear-
City) and Ryan Kalish (Chicago
ances (562).
Cubs), with, of course, Brad Ausmus
Abramowitz predicted that the big-
managing the Detroit Tigers. All are
gest buyers of the cards won't be kids
included in this year's 50-card set.
but rather adults who still have a keen
interest in the game and memories of
The 14 Jewish players active in
the Major Leagues in 2013 includ-
Jewish stars from long ago.
ed Braun, Breslow, Davis, Feldman,
"The cards have always appealed
Nate Freiman, Fuld, Kinsler,
essentially to older adults more than
Lavarnway, Jason Marquis, Kevin
to kids," he said as he reflected on the
Pillar, Satin, Valencia, Youkilis and
evolution of the connection between
Zeid. As pointed out on card No. 50 of Jews and baseball.
the newly issued set, the Jewish play-
"You know, it used to be that base-
ers of 2013 represented about 1 per-
ball was the way for Jews to become
American," Abramowitz said. "In
cent of Major League Baseball's 1,355
players for the season.
more recent years, however — and
The 10 position players hit a com-
this is a paradox — I think it's
bined .258, slightly above the MLB
become a way for American Jews to
average of .253, and their combined
be more Jewish:'

BY JON RO

A holiday reunion provides the oxygen for this play set in the desert home of actor and former Ambassador Lyman
and his wife Polly Wyeth in Palm Springs, CA. As a special treat, their daughter Brooke comes home bearing her
manuscript of a memoir about things her parents want to forget; a true case of emotional blackmail.
Playwright Baitz looks deeper and more clearly into Mom and Dad than he ever has before.

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The 2014 edition of Jewish Major Leaguer Baseball Cards are $36
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April 24 • 2014

63