Join our Community
Support ToI and remove all ads
Learn more
×

Israel Association of Baseball

Israel pitcher Ben Simon, center, high-fives his teammates after Israel defeated the Netherlands during a World Baseball Classic game, Tuesday, March 10, 2026, in Miami. (AP /Lynne Sladky)
March 12, 2026, 3:02 pm
Defying expectations, Israel exits World Baseball Classic by clinching spot in 2030
Squad goes 2-2, guarantees place in next tourney despite being ranked 19th out of 20 teams, fueling hopes for future among small, enthusiastic fanbase and roster of mostly US Jews
By jacob gurvis
Jerusalem baseball players and their families watch Team Israel play on TV in Jerusalem, March 9, 2026 (Zev Stub/Times of Israel)
March 10, 2026, 6:18 pm
Swatting away war, Team Israel fans in Jerusalem find nine innings of refuge in baseball
A small crew of enthusiasts takes a timeout from Iranian missiles to watch Israel compete on the global stage and feel ‘normal’, at least for a few hours
By Zev Stub
Yonatan (Yoni) Zeevi of Israel's national baseball team gets on base during the European Baseball Championship, held from September 23-October 1, 2023, in the Czech Republic (Jan Benes/ Eurobaseball 2023)
October 2, 2023, 5:13 am
Israel finishes 6th overall at European Baseball Championships
Despite disappointing finish, general manager says tournament was ‘an incredible baseball experience,’ with games held before and after Yom Kippur to accommodate fasting players
By Gavriel Fiske
Ryan Lavarnway goes to bat for Team Israel in this undated photo. (Courtesy IAB)
August 31, 2023, 3:15 pm
MLB catcher Ryan Lavarnway pens kid’s book about Team Israel
In ‘Baseball and Belonging,’ the athlete chronicles his life and sports career, telling how a call from Israel’s burgeoning baseball program helped him find his Judaism
By jacob gurvis
Chicago Cubs' Matt Mervis celebrates his two-run home run off New York Mets starting pitcher Tylor Megill with third base coach Willie Harris during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in Chicago. (AP/Charles Rex Arbogast)
June 15, 2023, 6:19 am
Cubs slugger Mervis hawks Hebrew merch to boost baseball in Israel
Slumping first baseman with a grandma from Givatayim puts M*A*S*H* nickname into Hebrew letters on shirts and caps to raise money for fields in Israel
By Gabe Friedman
Baseball players from the David Posnack Jewish Day School pose with local Dominican teens at a ceremony March 14, 2023, in Miami. (Jacob Gurvis/ JTA)
March 17, 2023, 3:23 am
Israeli, Dominican teams gather to promote friendship at World Baseball Classic
Hours before a humiliating 10-0 loss, Israel hosts the DR for a ceremony celebrating the countries’ shared history and highlighting their fight against bigotry and antisemitism
By jacob gurvis
Alon Leichman pitching for Team Israel in an undated photo. (Courtesy IAB)
December 25, 2022, 5:15 am
Wild pitch: How an Israeli kibbutznik became a Cincinnati Reds pitching coach
Alon Leichman is the first athlete born in Israel to make it to the major leagues, but even after years working his way up in the US, he hasn’t forgotten where he comes from
By Elli Wohlgelernter
Team Israel's Danny Valencia high-fives teammates in this undated photo. (Courtesy IAB)
June 12, 2022, 4:17 am
Israel Baseball swings for the fences, building the field in hopes players come
After a strong 2021 Olympic showing, a new regulation field is nearly done and 4 youth teams will play in Europe this summer – but there’s still a struggle to find homegrown talent
By Steve Leibowitz
San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler walks across the field during a game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Ohio on May 27, 2022. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
May 30, 2022, 11:22 pm
Gabe Kapler, SF Giants’ manager, to skip pregame national anthem in protest
A former coach for Team Israel and one of the most prominent Jews in baseball today, Kapler says his decision comes from belief that the US is not ‘representing us well right now’
By PHILISSA CRAMER
Ami Baran at the European World Championships for softball in 2011. (Courtesy Israel Softball Association)
May 15, 2022, 4:24 pm
US-Israeli former cop busts into sabra sports and gets identity shock of his life
Ami Baran moved to Israel by himself at age 13, and after serving in the military, became a police major – and Israel’s greatest-ever softball pitcher and national javelin champ
By Steve Leibowitz
PROMOTED CONTENT
Israel's Blake Gailen runs towards the home plate to score during the seventh inning of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games baseball round 1 game between Israel and Mexico at Yokohama Baseball Stadium in Yokohama, Japan, on August 1, 2021. (KAZUHIRO FUJIHARA / AFP)
October 1, 2021, 12:06 pm
Batting Cleanup: Blake Gailen
How Gailen’s turbulent journey through the minor leagues and playing in Australia during the pandemic led him to play a crucial role in helping Team Israel qualify for the Olympics
An Israeli man receives a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at a Clalit health care maintenance organization in Jerusalem, on August 1, 2021. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)
August 1, 2021, 2:24 pm
Daily Briefing August 1 – Israelis turn guinea pigs as 3rd COVID dose rolled out
Lazar Berman explains why Israel is up in arms after an alleged Iranian attack on an oil tanker; health reporter Nathan Jeffay lists pros and cons of Israel’s 3rd dose campaign
By ToI Staff
Israel's Scott Burcham, right, dives and cannot reach a ball picked up by Rob Paller, center, as Blake Gailen (2) looks on during a baseball game against the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics on July 30, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP/Sue Ogrocki)
July 30, 2021, 5:06 pm
Israel’s Olympic baseball team pounded 8-1 by US, further dimming medal hopes
After defeat by MLB prospects and released players, Ken Hultz’s squad will face lowest-ranking team from other group, must win that game to remain in contention
By ToI Staff and AP
Israel's Mitchell Glasser (22) collides with teammate Blake Gailen as he catches a fly out hit by South Korea's Jaeil Oh during a baseball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, July 29, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
July 29, 2021, 5:22 pm
Israel’s Olympic baseball team loses first match 6-5 to South Korea
After coming up short in a nail-biter of a game with extra innings, Israel will face the US team on Friday
By Amy Spiro
Shlomo Lipetz is vice president of programming at City Winery. (Ehud Lazin/ via JTA)
July 28, 2021, 4:30 am
This Team Israel Olympic pitcher has a day job booking talent like John Mulaney
Shlomo Lipetz is living the dream twice over with one foot in professional sports and one in showbusiness – and celebrities from both fields in his fan club
By Gabe Friedman
Load More
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Paying ToI Community members are invited to comment on articles
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By joining you agree to the terms and conditions
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Join The Times of Israel Community
Only ToI Community members can comment below articles
Forgot your password? / Send me a login link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.
Back to top
Never miss breaking news on Israel
Get notifications to stay updated
You're subscribed
image
Register for free
and continue reading
Registering allows you to manage your newsletters and alerts and helps us improve your experience. It takes just a few seconds.
Already registered? Enter your email to sign in.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Or Continue with
By registering you agree to the terms and conditions. Once registered, you’ll receive our Daily Edition email for free.
Register to continue
Or Continue with
Log in to continue
Sign in or Register
I forgot my password / Send me a sign in link
Or Continue with
check your email
Check your email
We sent an email to you at .
It has a link that will sign you in.