PLAY BALL!!!!! THE JEWISH BOYS OF SUMMER…..SEE NOTE PLEASE
CONNECTICUT JEWISH LEDGER, BEST JEWISH INTEREST PAPER IN THE US PRESENTS THE ANNUAL LIST OF JEWISH BASEBALL PLAYERS….WHEN I WAS A KID IN THE BRONX RIGHT NEAR YANKEE STADIUM MY FRIEND’S GRANDMOTHER TILLIE TOLD US THAT BASEBALL WAS A JEWISH GAME BECAUSE THEY ALWAYS MENTIONED “ROSENBERG”…..SHE WAS REFERRING TO THE “RESIN BAG” BUT WE NEVER TOLD HER THE TRUTH….RSK
With the 2013 baseball season hitting the mid-way point, the Ledger takes its annual look at how the Jewish boys of summer are faring on the field this year. Pictured on the cover is Ike Davis of the New York Mets.
Ryan Joseph Braun
Born: Nov. 17, 1983
Birthplace: Mission Hills, CA
Team Milwaukee Brewers
Position: Left Field
Ryan Braun
Number: 8
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Average: .304
Season HR: 9
Season RBI: 36
Career Avg: .313
Career HR: 211
Career RBI: 679
Experience: 7 years
On July 20, 2012, Ryan Braun notched his 1,000th career hit. It came in his 815th career game, 16 games sooner than when all-time hits leader Pete Rose achieved the same feat in his 831st game. On Sept. 16, 2012, he hit his 200th career HR and at his next at bat hit another for his 40th of the year, the first time he has reached that mark in his career. He led the National League in HR’s in 2012 with 41. In 2012 he finished 2nd in NL MVP voting behind Buster Posey. He also won his fifth consecutive Silver Slugger award.
In July 2012, Ryan teamed up with fellow Wisconsin athlete Aaron Rodgers and SURG Restaurant Group to open 8-Twelve MVP Bar and Grill in Brookfield, Wisc.
Since late 2011, Braun’s name has been mentioned with MLB’s investigation of a Florida clinic that has allegedly distributed PEDs to multiple major league baseball players. It’s been rumored that Braun could face a suspension. Braun has stated that his attorneys had used the clinic’s operator, Anthony Bosch, as a consultant during his appeal of his positive drug test in 2011. He has denied any further dealings with the clinic.
Isaac “Ike” Benjamin Davis
Born: March 22, 1987
Birthplace: Edina, Minnesota
Team: New York Mets
Position: First Base
Number: 29
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Season AVG: .165
Season HR: 5
Season RBI: 18
Career AVG: .239
Career HR: 63
Career RBI: 204
Experience: 4 Years
Ike had ups and downs in his offense with the remainder of the 2012 season. He ended 2012 with 32 HR’s, fifth in the National League. His struggles have continued into the 2013 season. In June he was sent down to AAA Las Vegas to rework his swing. He was replaced by friend and fellow Jew, Josh Satin. Since returning to the majors in early July the two have shared the duty of starting first baseman. (Davis is pictured on the cover)
Scott Wynne Feldman
Born: Feb. 7, 1983
Birthplace: Kailua, Hawaii
Scott Feldman
Team: Baltimore Orioles
Position: Starting Pitcher
Number: 34
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Season ERA: 3.86
Season SO: 82
Season Record: 8-7
Career ERA: 4.69
Career SO: 515
Career Record: 47-51
Experience: 9 Years
Scott Feldman became a free agent at the end of the 2012 season when the Texas Rangers declined his option. He then signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Cubs for the 2013 season. On May 24, 2013 he hit his first career home run against Bronson Arroyo of the Cincinnati Reds. He was traded on July 2, 2013 with Steve Calanger to the Baltimore Orioles for Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop.
Craig Andrew Breslow
Born: August 8, 1980
Birthplace: New Haven, CT
Craig Breslow
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Relief Pitcher
Number: 32
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Season ERA: 2.81
Season SO: 19
Season Record: 3-2
Career ERA: 2.98
Career SO: 315
Career Record: 18-19
Experience: 8 Years
On July 31, 2012, Craig Breslow was traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Boston Red Sox for OF Scott Posednik and RP Matt Albers. In January 2013, he signed a two-year contract with Boston. Craig’s Strike 3 Foundation continues to host charity events and accepts donations to support pediatric cancer research.
Samuel Babson Fuld
Samuel Fuld
Born: Nov. 20, 1981
Birthplace: Durham, NH
Team: Tampa Bay Rays
Position: Outfield
Number: 5
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Season Average: .194
Season HR: 2
Season RBI: 11
Career AVG: .237
Career HR: 6
Career RBI: 48
Experience: 6 Years
Fuld returned to the majors after wrist surgery on July 24, 2012. On June 9, 2013, he homered for the first time since 2011.
Ian Michael Kinsler
Born: June 22, 1982
Birthplace: Tucson, AZ
Team: Texas Rangers
Position: Second Base
Number: 5
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Average: .281
Season HR: 9
Season RBI: 36
Career AVG: .273
Career HR: 152
Career RBI: 503
Experience: 8 Years
Kinsler currently has a seven-game hitting streak going into the all-star break. He continues to be a solid player but has been having trouble stealing bases this year.
Jason Scott Marquis
Born: August 21, 1978
Birthplace: Manhasset, NY
Team: San Diego Padres
Position: Starting Pitcher
Number: 21
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Season ERA: 3.77
Season SO: 72
Season Record: 9-4
Career ERA: 4.55
Career SO: 1137
Career Record: 121-113
Experience: 14 Years
On August 11, 2012, Marquis took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates before it was broken up. The game ended as a two-hit shutout. On August 21 he was hit on the wrist and continued in the game. Later, it was discovered that his wrist was broken, ending his 2012 season early.
Kevin Edmund Youkilis
Born: March 15, 1979
Birthplace: Cincinnati, OH
Team: New York Yankees
Position: Third Base
Number: 36
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Average: .219
Season HR: 2
Season RBI: 8
Career AVG: .281
Career HR: 150
Career RBI: 618
Experience: 10 Years
Youkilis became a free agent at the end of the 2012 season. He was signed by the New York Yankees on Dec.11, 2012 to a one-year, $12 million contract. He has been plagued by back strains through the first half of the season having multiple stints on the disabled list. On June 20, 2013 he underwent back surgery and was transferred to the 60-day disabled list, probably ending his 2013 season.
Joshua Blake Satin
Joshua Satin
Born: Dec. 23, 1984
Birthplace: Hidden Hills, CA
Team: New York Mets
Position: 1B
Number: 13
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Average: .361
Season HR: 1
Season RBI: 8
Career Average: .310
Career HR: 1
Career RBI: 10
Experience: 3 Years
Satin was drafted by the Mets in the sixth round of the 2008 draft. He made his major league debut on Sept. 4, 2011. He was called up again in June 2012 for one game. In September 2012, he played for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. He was called up on June 9, 2013 when Ike Davis was demoted to AAA because of his struggling offense. He became the starting first baseman and has shared the role with Ike Davis since his return to the majors. Satin hit his first major league HR on July 3, 2013.
Ryan Cole Lavarnway
Ryan Lavarnay
Born: August 7, 1987
Birthplace: Burbank, CA
Team: Boston Red Sox
Position: Catcher
Number: 20
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Average:
.243
Season HR: 0
Season RBI:
Career Average:
.183
Career HR: 4
Career RBI: 24
Experience: 3 Years
Lavarnway attended Yale University, as did fellow Red Sox and Jew Craig Breslow, where he won the NCAA batting title in 2007. Lavarnway was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2008 in the sixth round. He made his major league debut on August 18, 2011. Lavarnway was called up again in August 2012. He has been called up from AAA twice in 2013 and is currently the back-up catcher for the Red Sox.
Nathan Samuel Freiman
Nathan Freiman
Born: Dec. 31, 1986
Birthplace: Washington D.C
Team: Oakland A’s
Position: 1B
Number: 7
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Season Average:
.262
Season HR: 2
Season RBI: 17
Career Average:
.262
Career HR: 2
Career RBI: 17
Experience: 1 Year
Freiman grew up in Wellesley, Mass. and attended Duke University, where he still holds the career HR record. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2008 but decided to finish college and did not sign with the team. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2009 in the eighth round. He shined for the Padres in the minor leagues through 2012. In September 2012, he played for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic. The Houston Astros picked him up in the Rule 5 draft in December 2012. He was then placed on waivers during spring training and picked up by the Oakland A’s. He was added to their 25-man roster on March 30 and made his major league debut on April 3. He was voted AL Rookie of the Month in May. On June 13, Freiman had the game-winning hit vs. Mariano Rivera in the 18th inning for the A’s win.
Sidenote
Craig Breslow and Ryan Lavarnway made history in August 2012 when they became the first pitcher-catcher combination from Yale to appear in a big-league game since 1883.
The 2013 World Baseball Classic Team Israel
The 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) was an international professional baseball competition, held from March 2 to 19, 2013. Israel’s team included:
Pitchers
Eric Berger
Richard Bleier
David Colvin
Jeremy Gould
Jeff Kaplan
David Kopp
Alon Leichman
Shlomo Lipetz
Brett Lorin
Max Perlman
Dan Rothem
Justin Schumer
Jeff Urlaub
Josh Zeid
Catchers
Charles Cutler
Nick Rickles
Infielders
Nate Freiman
Jake Lemmerma
Jack Marder
Ben Orloff
Josh Satin
Outfielders
Cody Decker
Adam Greenberg
Ben Guez
Joc Pederson
Robbie Widlansky
Designated hitters
Shawn Green
Casey Haerther
Coaching Staff
Brad Ausmus, manager
Mark Loretta, hitting coach
Andrew Lorraine, pitching coach
Matt Martin, coach
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