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baseball

Israel and USA Maccabiah baseball teams shake hands after the USA win, 5-1, in the final game on July 8, 2026 in Ra'anana (Jessica Steinberg/Times of Israel)
July 10, 2026, 3:38 am
Maccabiah baseball field is a symbol of Israeli resilience – and a home – for players and fans
Israel loses series against USA in ‘Jewish Olympics,’ but at Ezra Schwartz Memorial Field, named for US-born terror victim, community bonds over off-the-field losses and love of the game
By Jessica Steinberg
Team Israel's Justin Alinoff pitches during the team's exhibition game against the Miami Marlins, March 3, 2026 (Courtesy Jared Polin)
March 6, 2026, 3:22 am
Novelty no more, Team Israel goes to bat for local game with return to World Baseball Classic
Built mainly around American Jewish players, the team returning to the global tourney this week has become a symbol of Jewish identity and a driver for the sport’s growth at home
By Zev Stub
Alon Leichman, then with the Miami Marlins, gestures signs toward catcher Agustín Ramírez during the eighth inning of a US baseball game on September 20, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP/Julio Cortez)
December 11, 2025, 7:29 pm
In first for Israel, Kibbutz Gezer’s Alon Leichman named pitching coach for MLB team
Leichman, who has worn the number of his kibbutz laundry tag and highlighted his Israeli identity, has been appointed by the Colorado Rockies
By ToI Staff and JTA
Miami Marlins assistant general manager Gabe Kapler sits in the dugout before the team's baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, May 3, 2024, in Oakland, California. (AP/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
November 4, 2025, 11:27 am
Gabe Kapler promoted to general manager of MLB’s Miami Marlins
Jewish baseball exec previously played and coached for Team Israel, has Magen David and ‘Never Again’ tattoos on his legs
By Agencies
Rabbi Eliot Cosgrove (L) and Catholic Archbishop Timothy Dolan speak at Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City on October 3, 2025. (Park Avenue Synagogue on YouTube)
October 6, 2025, 9:19 am
NYC synagogue hosts archbishop, Sandy Koufax jersey to mark 60-year milestones for US Jews
Timothy Dolan speaks on Yom Kippur about 1965 Catholic doctrine declaring Jews innocent of deicide; rabbi recalls Jewish baseball legend famously skipping game for holy day that year
By PHILISSA CRAMER
Monte Pfeiffer is No. 12, second from left on the bottom row in a photograph of the Wilkes-Barre (Pennsylvania) Coal Barons. The Jewish shortstop had a breakthrough year for the minor league team in 1913. (Courtesy Zak Kranc via JTA)
August 15, 2025, 8:00 pm
Baseball fans can now add little-known Monte Pfeiffer to roster of Jewish players
A sharp-eyed enthusiast adds new discovery rooted in dusty box scores, old news articles and genealogical detective work – a chosen athlete who played one game for Philadelphia in 1913
By Scott Barancik
A complete collection of Jewish players' baseball cards being sold at Sotheby's is estimated to fetch more than $500,000 in January 2025. (Sotheby's via JTA)
January 17, 2025, 5:40 pm
Sotheby’s auctions world’s biggest Jewish baseball card collection
Set of over 500 cards representing 191 Jewish players expected to fetch $500,000 to $700,000
By jacob gurvis
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Spencer Horwitz reaches for an infield grounder during a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays September 21, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius, File)
January 10, 2025, 1:32 am
Pirates welcome Jewish player Spencer Horwitz to the team
Acquired in a December trade with Toronto, the first baseman is an underdog Jewish fans can get behind – a late draftee who proved himself as he slugged his way up into the majors
By Jonathan Mayo
L-R, top row: Jake Retzlaff, Quinn Hughes and Lindsay Gottlieb. Bottom row: Sam Salz, Jessica Fox and Max Fried. (Getty Images; Design by Grace Yagel via JTA)
January 1, 2025, 2:33 am
From Olympic medals to college ball, the top moments for Jewish athletes in 2024
Jewish athletes distinguished themselves across events, venues and tiers of competition while also having an incredible impact off the field. Here’s a look at this year’s highlights
By jacob gurvis
Max Fried #54 of the Atlanta Braves throws a pitch against the San Diego Padres during the first inning in game two of the Wild Card series at Petco Park on October 2, 2024, in San Diego, California. - The New York Yankees have agreed to sign left-handed pitcher Fried to an eight-year, $218 million dollar contract -- the largest ever for a left-handed hurler, MLB.com reported on December 10, 2024. (Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images North America/AFP)
December 11, 2024, 5:46 am
Jewish pitcher Max Fried signs record-breaking deal with NY Yankees
All-Star’s 8-year, $218 million deal with New York baseball team marks the largest-ever contract for both a Jewish player and a left-handed pitcher
By jacob gurvis
Sandy Koufax pitches during Game 7 of the 1965 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Minnesota Twins, Oct. 14, 1965, at Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis. (Focus on Sport/Getty Images, via JTA)
October 12, 2024, 6:47 pm
In 1965, Sandy Koufax famously didn’t pitch on Yom Kippur. But did he go to shul?
Daniel Schloff, 17 at the time, recalls the Dodgers star pitcher sitting in front of him at Temple of Aaron synagogue in St. Paul, Minnesota: ‘He was there 100% and I sat behind him 100%’
By jacob gurvis
Levi Sterling played for the USA Baseball 18U National Team in 2023. (Courtesy of USA Baseball via JTA)
July 22, 2024, 2:06 am
Meet the 6 Jewish baseball players selected in the 2024 MLB Draft
Up one draftee from last year’s 5, this crop of ballplayers still represents less than 1% of the new MLB class – but they are making an outsized impression
By jacob gurvis
Steinmetz has represented Israel on the field at the World Baseball Classic and with an Israeli flag patch and headband in the minor leagues. (Joseph Nguyen; Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images/ via JTA)
July 8, 2024, 1:30 am
How Orthodox minor-league pitcher Jacob Steinmetz is staying on top of his Judaism game
Walking to practice on Shabbat and fueling up on kosher delivery meals are just some of the ways the baseball player fields religion while staying focused on baseball
By jacob gurvis
Chicago Cubs pitcher Ken Holtzman talks with reporters after a match against Atlanta in Chicago on August 19, 1969. (James Palmer/AP Photo)
April 16, 2024, 10:21 am
Ken Holtzman, who had the most wins of any Jewish pitcher in MLB history, dies at 78
The St. Louis-born pitcher ended his career with more wins than Sandy Koufax; went on to take part in Israel’s short-lived baseball league and run the gymnasium at his hometown JCC
By jacob gurvis
Eitan Levine threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Hartford Yard Goats game, April 10, 2024, in Hartford, Connecticut. (Courtesy via JTA)
April 14, 2024, 1:20 am
This Jewish comedian hopes to set a new baseball record
Eitan Levine will tour the US to earn the Guinness title for most ceremonial first pitches thrown, and will raise money for a good cause along the way
By Luke Tress
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