Jews and Baseball: Volume 1, Entering the American Mainstream, 1871-1948
Long before Hank Greenberg earned recognition as baseball’s greatest Jewish player, Jews had developed a unique, and very close, relationship with the American pastime. In the late nineteenth century, as both the American Jewish population and baseball’s popularity grew rapidly, baseball became an avenue by which Jewish immigrants could assimilate into American culture. Beyond the men (and, later, women) on the field, in the dugout, and at the front office, the Jewish community produced a huge base of fans and students of the game. This important book examines the interrelated histories of baseball and American Jews to 1948—the year Israel was established, the first full season that both major leagues were integrated, and the summer that Hank Greenberg retired. Covered are the many players, from Pike to Greenberg, as well as the managers, owners, executives, writers, statisticians, manufacturers and others who helped forge a bond between baseball and an emerging Jewish culture in America. Key reasons for baseball’s early appeal to Jews are examined, including cultural assimilation, rebellion against perceived Old World sensibilities, and intellectual and philosophical ties to existing Jewish traditions. The authors also clearly demonstrate how both Jews and baseball have benefited from their relationship.
1111753930
Jews and Baseball: Volume 1, Entering the American Mainstream, 1871-1948
Long before Hank Greenberg earned recognition as baseball’s greatest Jewish player, Jews had developed a unique, and very close, relationship with the American pastime. In the late nineteenth century, as both the American Jewish population and baseball’s popularity grew rapidly, baseball became an avenue by which Jewish immigrants could assimilate into American culture. Beyond the men (and, later, women) on the field, in the dugout, and at the front office, the Jewish community produced a huge base of fans and students of the game. This important book examines the interrelated histories of baseball and American Jews to 1948—the year Israel was established, the first full season that both major leagues were integrated, and the summer that Hank Greenberg retired. Covered are the many players, from Pike to Greenberg, as well as the managers, owners, executives, writers, statisticians, manufacturers and others who helped forge a bond between baseball and an emerging Jewish culture in America. Key reasons for baseball’s early appeal to Jews are examined, including cultural assimilation, rebellion against perceived Old World sensibilities, and intellectual and philosophical ties to existing Jewish traditions. The authors also clearly demonstrate how both Jews and baseball have benefited from their relationship.
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Jews and Baseball: Volume 1, Entering the American Mainstream, 1871-1948

Jews and Baseball: Volume 1, Entering the American Mainstream, 1871-1948

Jews and Baseball: Volume 1, Entering the American Mainstream, 1871-1948

Jews and Baseball: Volume 1, Entering the American Mainstream, 1871-1948

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Overview

Long before Hank Greenberg earned recognition as baseball’s greatest Jewish player, Jews had developed a unique, and very close, relationship with the American pastime. In the late nineteenth century, as both the American Jewish population and baseball’s popularity grew rapidly, baseball became an avenue by which Jewish immigrants could assimilate into American culture. Beyond the men (and, later, women) on the field, in the dugout, and at the front office, the Jewish community produced a huge base of fans and students of the game. This important book examines the interrelated histories of baseball and American Jews to 1948—the year Israel was established, the first full season that both major leagues were integrated, and the summer that Hank Greenberg retired. Covered are the many players, from Pike to Greenberg, as well as the managers, owners, executives, writers, statisticians, manufacturers and others who helped forge a bond between baseball and an emerging Jewish culture in America. Key reasons for baseball’s early appeal to Jews are examined, including cultural assimilation, rebellion against perceived Old World sensibilities, and intellectual and philosophical ties to existing Jewish traditions. The authors also clearly demonstrate how both Jews and baseball have benefited from their relationship.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781476605142
Publisher: McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date: 10/10/2014
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 232
File size: 5 MB

About the Author

A member of the Society for American Baseball Research, Burton A. Boxerman taught history for 30 years and contributes to numerous historical journals. A longtime baseball fan, he lives in St. Louis, Missouri. Writer and researcher Benita W. Boxerman is retired from one of the largest public relations firms in the United States and is a member of SABR. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii
Foreword by Martin Abramowitz, Ph.D. 1
Prologue 3

1. From the Beginnings 5
2. The Earliest Jewish Professional Players 8
3. The Cincinnati Connection 13
4. Baseball’s Most Detested Owner 19
5. Reshaping the Game 27
6. Baseball and Eastern European Jews 37
7. A Cohen by Any Other Name 40
8. Keepers of the Stats 55
9. Baseball’s National Anthem 61
10. From the Press Box 64
11. The Last of the Pseudonyms 75
12. McGraw’s Mission 83
13. The Unsung Star 94
14. The Clown and the Spy 99
15. The Revolutionary Umpire 111
16. Jewish Owners—The Next Generation 116
17. The Golden Age Begins 132
18. The Brooklyn Dodgers 153
19. The War Years 165
20. The First Jewish Superstar 176

Epilogue 185
Notes 187
Bibliography 209
Index 217
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