Overview
Most fans don't know how far the Jewish presence in baseball extends beyond a few famous players such as Greenberg, Rosen, Koufax, Holtzman, Green, Ausmus, Youkilis, Braun, and Kinsler. In fact, that presence extends to the baseball commissioner Bud Selig, labor leaders Marvin Miller and Don Fehr, owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Stuart Sternberg, officials Theo Epstein and Mark Shapiro, sportswriters Murray Chass, Ross Newhan, Ira Berkow, and Roger Kahn, and even famous Jewish baseball fans like Alan Dershowitz and Barney Frank. The life stories of these and many others, on and off the field, have been compiled from nearly fifty in-depth interviews and arranged by decade in this edifying and entertaining work of oral and cultural history. In American Jews and America's Game each person talks about growing up Jewish and dealing with Jewish identity, assimilation, intermarriage, future viability, religious observance, anti-Semitism, and Israel. Each tells about being in the midst of the colorful pantheon of players who, over the past seventy-five years or more, have made baseball what it is. Their stories tell, as no previous book has, the history of the larger-than-life role of Jews in America's pastime.
Full Product Details
Author: Larry Ruttman , Martin Abramowitz , Allan H Selig , Allan H Selig
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Imprint: University of Nebraska Press
Dimensions:
Width: 17.80cm
, Height: 3.90cm
, Length: 25.40cm
Weight: 1.093kg
ISBN: 9780803253438
ISBN 10: 0803253435
Pages: 277
Publication Date: 01 March 2015
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print 
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Table of Contents
List of Illustrations Foreword by Allan H. ""Bud"" Selig Preface Acknowledgments Introduction by Martin Abramowitz The 1930s Henry ""Hank"" Greenberg: Hall of Fame Infielder and Outfielder, Revealing the Survival of American Judaism Generation by Generation The 1940s Thelma ""Tiby"" Eisen and Anita Foss: Baseball Players and Pioneers for Women's Rights, in a League of Their Own Dr. Martin Abramowitz: Originator of Jewish Major Leaguers Baseball Cards Barney Frank: Fan and Congressman The 1950s Al Rosen: First-Ever Unanimous Most Valuable Player Selection, the Luckiest Jew Alive Alan Dershowitz: From Avi the Bum and Ballplayer to Alan the Professor, Defender, and Civil Libertarian Sol Gittleman: First-Generation Jewish American, Realizing the American Dream Howard Goldstein, Esquire: Jewish Baseball Memorabilia Collector, Preserving Memory Jewish-Style Roger Kahn: Author of the Classic Baseball Book The Boys of Summer The 1960s Sandy Koufax: Pitcher Nonpareil and Perfect Gentleman Murray Chass: Hall of Fame New York Times Scribe Ira Berkow: New York Times Journalist, Author, Pulitzer Prize Winner, and Jewish Son Rabbi Michael Paley: Unorthodox Orthodox Rabbi Art Shamsky: Hank Greenberg Redux Ross Newhan and David Newhan: Hall of Fame Sports Scribe and Major League Baseball Player, Father and Son The 1970s Marvin Miller: Baseball Game Changer and Former Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Ken Holtzman: Winningest Jewish Major League Pitcher Ever, Observant Jew Ronald Shapiro and Mark Shapiro: Father and Son, the Merging of Judaism into America Ron Blomberg: Designated Hebrew Marty Appel: Former New York Yankees Public Relations Director Joel Mael: Vice Chairman of the Florida Marlins, Orthodox Jew Elliott Maddox: Major League Outfielder, Black Convert to Judaism The 1980s Donald Fehr: Former Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Jerry Reinsdorf: Owner of the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls Steve Hertz: Major League Infielder, Legendary College Coach Al Clark: Longtime Major League Umpire, Fallen and Redeemed The 1990s Allan H. ""Bud"" Selig: Innovative and Controversial Commissioner of Major League Baseball Jeffrey Maier: Fan and Tenth Player Andrew Zimbalist: Baseball's Economist Leon Feingold: Israel Baseball League Player of the Year, Jewish Physical and Mental Giant Alan Schwarz: New York Times Columnist and Author Marvin Goldklang: Multiple Minor League Team Owner and Baseball Man of Influence Brad Ausmus: Gold Glove Catcher Randy Levine: President of the New York Yankees The 2000s Theo Epstein: The Youngest General Manager in Major League Baseball History Gabe Kapler: Major League Outfielder and Minor League Manager Craig Breslow: Major League Relief Pitcher, Yale University Graduate Jeffrey Gurock: Professor of Jewish History at Yeshiva University, Orthodox Jew, and Sportsman Stuart Sternberg: From Canarsie to Tampa Bay by Way of Wall Street Kevin Youkilis: Euclis, the Greek God of Walks The 2010s Darren Harrison-Panis: On Course to Be a Major League Baseball Owner ""Superman"" Sam Fuld: Outfielder Nonpareil Ian Kinsler: Major League All-Star Second Baseman Selected Bibliography Index
Reviews
The historian Jacques Barzun was right when he said, 'Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.' Larry Ruttman knows that too, and that is why I chose to write this Foreword to his book American Jews and America's Game. His stories cover almost one hundred years of American history and the place of American Jews in that history. . . . This is a book that celebrates family-baseball's, yours, and mine. -from the foreword by Allan H. Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball -- Allan H. Bud Selig This longtime attorney remains a gentle, always enthusiastic questioner, interested in his subjects' love for the game, their experiences with anti-Semitism and their connection to their faith. -Kirkus * Kirkus * Jews have played a key role in baseball history, as has been frequently noted. There is now a celebratory tone to the topic, and this book is firmly within the new tradition. -Library Journal * Library Journal * American Jews and America's Game is a highly personal, heartfelt collaborative exploration between the interviewer, his subject and its participants and devotees. -Andrew P. Fleischer, Jewish Journal -- Andrew P. Fleischer * Jewish Journal * [American Jews and America's Game is] a tremendous piece of work, and we're lucky to have it. -Rob Neyer, Baseballnation.com -- Rob Neyer * Baseballnation.com *
The historian Jacques Barzun was right when he said, 'Whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball.' Larry Ruttman knows that too, and that is why I chose to write this Foreword to his book American Jews and America's Game. His stories cover almost one hundred years of American history and the place of American Jews in that history... This is a book that celebrates family-baseball's, yours, and mine. -from the foreword by Allan H. Bud Selig, Commissioner of Major League Baseball -- Allan H. Bud Selig This longtime attorney remains a gentle, always enthusiastic questioner, interested in his subjects' love for the game, their experiences with anti-Semitism and their connection to their faith. -Kirkus Kirkus Jews have played a key role in baseball history, as has been frequently noted. There is now a celebratory tone to the topic, and this book is firmly within the new tradition. -Library Journal Library Journal American Jews and America's Game is a highly personal, heartfelt collaborative exploration between the interviewer, his subject and its participants and devotees. -Andrew P. Fleischer, Jewish Journal -- Andrew P. Fleischer Jewish Journal [American Jews and America's Game is] a tremendous piece of work, and we're lucky to have it. -Rob Neyer, Baseballnation.com -- Rob Neyer Baseballnation.com
Author Information
Larry Ruttman, Fellow of the Massachusetts Historical Society, is the author of Voices of Brookline, a national finalist for the Award of Merit of the American Association of State and Local History. He has practiced law in Boston for more than fifty years and produces and hosts a television interview show in his hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts.
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