SPOTLIGHT STORIES

Read exclusive stories from the Jewish Baseball Museum. Noted Jewish baseball writers Ed Sherman and Dan Epstein reconnect with players from the past and get the inside perspective from today's stars.
Spotlight Stories

Today in Jewish baseball history

1948 — Flint second baseman Al Federoff and shortstop Clem Koshorek set a Class A Central League record by combining to handle 24 chances without an error in a 2-0 victory over Fort Wayne in the second game of a doubleheader. Federoff has 13 fielding chances and starts four double plays.

1951 — Al Rosen hits a grand slam home run to help the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 11-2 in the first game of a doubleheader. Marv Rotblatt pitches two scoreless innings of relief for Chicago and starts a ninth-inning triple play by snaring a pop-fly bunt by Jim Hegan a few inches off the ground. Game summary

1951 — The Boston Braves claim pitcher Syd Schacht on waivers from the St. Louis Browns. Schacht will appear in his final five major league games for Boston, going 0-2 with a 1.93 ERA in 4 2/3 innings.

1956 — Eddie Picker scatters seven hits as the Kokomo Dodgers defeat the Lafayette Red Sox 5-1 for his first victory in the Midwest League.

1962 — Sandy Koufax appears in the episode “Dennis and the Dodger” during season 3 of the TV show Dennis the Menace. Grocer Otis Quigley hits a home run off Koufax during an exhibition game. 

1965 — Sandy Koufax allows three hits and strikes out 13 as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Houston Astros 3-0. Game summary

1978 — Larry Goldetsky, the No. 9 hitter in Memphis’ lineup, hits a grand slam homer and a two-run double in the Chicks’ 12-7 victory over the Knoxville Sox in the Southern League.

2004 — Tony Schrager goes 3-for-3 with two home runs including a grand slam and five RBIs as the Pawtucket Red Sox defeat the Charlotte Knights 7-4 in the International League.

2008 — Nate Freiman of Duke goes 5-for-5 with two homers, two doubles, three RBIs and four runs in a 10-5 victory over Campbell University.

2012 — Cody Decker of the San Antonio Missions is named Texas League Player of the Week for the second week in a row. Kevin Pillar of the Lansing Lugnuts is named Player of the Week in the Midwest League.

2014 — Alex Bregman of LSU gets four hits including two home runs and eight RBIs and scores four runs against Northwestern State.

MLB debuts

Dick Sharon, 1973 — Replaces Jim Northrup in right field in seventh inning of Tigers’ 6-5 loss to Brewers. Replaced by pinch hitter in ninth inning.

Micah Franklin, 1997 — Right fielder goes 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Cardinals’ 3-2 loss to Phillies.

Final MLB game

Max Rosenfeld, 1933 — Pinch runner for Hack Wilson in 10th inning of Dodgers’ 1-1 tie with Reds.

Recent transactions (2024)

Oakland Athletics sent 2B Zack Gelof on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators.

Philadelphia Phillies promote RHP Max Lazar from Double-A Reading Fightin’ Phils to Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs.

Houston Astros release C/1B CJ Stubbs from Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks.

Items based on the author’s “Day by Day in Jewish Sports History” (KTAV 2008)

SHARE THIS POST
TEST YOUR TRIVIA

THINK YOU KNOW JEWISH BASEBALL HISTORY?

Then test your knowledge with our trivia game which will truly separate the scholars from the yutzes.

BASEBALL STORIES

TELL US A STORY. WE'D LOVE TO HEAR IT!

What does Jewish baseball mean to you? Did you have a brush with greatness? A family story that connects your religion and your love of the game?