Hall of naches

The all-time Jewish baseball team roster?

Beit Hatfusot museum sets out its dream list of top hitters, pitchers and managers as it marks screening of documentary about Israel’s 2017 World Baseball Classic run

By JTA 6 September 2019, 3:45 pm

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Shawn Green, playing for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998, was one of three outfielders named to an all-time Jewish baseball team. (Jonathan Kirn/Allsport/Getty Images via JTA)

If you had to choose the best Jewish baseball player of all time at each position, what would your team look like?

The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfusot, based in Tel Aviv, has assembled such a roster.

The stunt is tied to Sunday’s screening in New York of “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel,” a documentary about Israel’s surprisingly successful run in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, an international tournament held every four years. Israel finished sixth out of 16 participating teams.

The museum’s squad is listed below. Let the debating begin.

Catcher: Harry Danning

First baseman: Hank Greenberg

Second baseman: Ian Kinsler

Shortstop: Lou Boudreau

Third baseman: Al Rosen

Outfielders: Shawn Green, Sid Gordon and Ryan Braun

Designated Hitter: Alex Bregman

Starting Pitchers: Sandy Koufax and Ken Holtzman, left-handers; Steve Stone, Barney Pelty and Jason Marquis, right-handers. Marquis pitched for Team Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Relief Pitchers: Craig Breslow, lefty, and Larry Sherry, righty

Manager: Brad Ausmus, manager of Team Israel in the 2013 World Baseball Classic

Kinsler, Braun and Bergman are still active, while Ausmus is in his first season managing the Los Angeles Angels after a stint guiding the Detroit Tigers from 2014 to 2017.