Jewish Athletes

The three Jewish stars of the 2021 World Series, from left: Joc Pederson, Max Fried and Alex Bregman. (Getty Images via JTA)

3 Jewish baseball players are key figures in the 2021 World Series

Slugger Alex Bregman of Houston Astros, pitcher Max Fried and outfielder Joc Pederson, both of the Atlanta Braves, constitute largest Jewish representation in decades

October 27, 2021, 12:18 pm

3 Jewish baseball players are key figures in the 2021 World Series

Slugger Alex Bregman of Houston Astros, pitcher Max Fried and outfielder Joc Pederson, both of the Atlanta Braves, constitute largest Jewish representation in decades

By jacob gurvis

Dolph Schayes, circa 1951. (Wikimedia Commons)

October 25, 2021, 5:10 am

12-time All-Star Dolph Schayes voted one of the 75 best players in NBA history

When he retired in 1964, Schayes was the league’s career leader in games played, foul shots attempted and made, and personal fouls

By Ami Eden

Ian Seidenfeld competes in a gold medal match at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, August 28, 2021. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images via JTA)

August 31, 2021, 12:29 pm

In upset for US, 20-year-old Jewish athlete wins Paralympic table tennis gold

Ian Seidenfeld defeats defending champion 3-0; ‘I couldn’t have dreamt for anything better’ he says following victory

By Emily Burack

Camila Giorgi, of Italy, plays Elina Svitolina, of Ukraine, during the quarterfinals of the tennis competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

August 19, 2021, 10:12 am

Rising Italian tennis star has Jewish Argentinian roots

Camila Giorgi, 29, who recently won the National Bank Open in Canada, says her favorite book is ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’

By Marvin Glassman

Gold medalists USA's April Ross (L) and Alix Klineman pose with their medals after the victory ceremony of the women's beach volleyball event during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Shiokaze Park in Tokyo on August 6, 2021. (Angela WEISS/AFP)

August 6, 2021, 5:28 pm

American Jewish athlete Alix Klineman wins beach volleyball gold in Tokyo

First-time Olympian takes gold with partner April Ross, who won silver in London and bronze in Rio de Janeiro

By Agencies

Orthodox Jewish runner Beatie Deutsch. (Projects in Torah/ via JTA)

August 1, 2021, 3:05 am

Adidas chooses an American-Israeli Orthodox mom as the face of a new campaign

Beatie Deutsch appeared out of nowhere in 2016 to become a top female runner globally — all while racing in modest attire; now a top sporting brand wants to showcase her faith

By Bonnie Azoulay

Miami Marlins relief pitcher Richard Bleier throws a pitch during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Wednesday, on July 28, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)

July 29, 2021, 10:33 pm

Miami Marlins Jewish pitcher throws a scoreless inning on Jewish Heritage Day

Relief pitcher Richard Bleier has also played for Team Israel and hopes to do so again

By Marvin Glassman

Liliia Akhaimova, of the Russian Olympic Committee, performs on the vault during the artistic gymnastics women's final at the 2020 Summer Olympics, on Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo. (AP/Ashley Landis)

July 27, 2021, 10:28 pm

Jewish vaulter Lilia Akhaimova helps Russia to gymnastics gold medal in Tokyo

Meanwhile, Australian Jessica Fox wins bronze in canoe slalom; was heavily favored for gold

By JTA and TOI staff

From left, the brothers Hughes: Jack, Luke and Quinn. (@_quinnhughes on Instagram; background via Getty Images, JTA)

July 27, 2021, 3:57 am

These 3 hockey-playing Jewish brothers just made NHL history

The Hughes brothers of Orlando, Florida are the first American family to have three siblings drafted in the first round

By EVELYN FRICK

Sue Bird drives the ball during the women's gold medal game between the United States and Spain at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games at Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 20, 2016. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

July 21, 2021, 8:39 pm

Jewish women’s basketball star to be US flag bearer at Olympics opening ceremony

Sue Bird, who is representing Team USA and also holds Israeli citizenship, has won gold at the last four games; says ‘mind-blowing’ to be chosen for Friday’s honor

By Emily Burack

Jacob Steinmetz is the first Orthodox player drafted by a Major League Baseball team. (Courtesy of the Steinmetz family via JTA)

July 18, 2021, 2:45 am

Kosher food, Shabbat pitching: Challenges of 1st Orthodox player drafted to MLB

Jacob Steinmetz confident he can maintain his religious lifestyle and thrive in Major League Baseball after being drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks

By Rob Charry

July 14, 2021, 4:33 am

Second Orthodox baseball player drafted into MLB in 2 days

Elie Kligman, picked by the Washington Nationals, recently switched to playing catcher, reportedly in a bid to secure a deal where he won’t have to play on Shabbat

By Gabe Friedman

Jacob Steinmetz is drafted for the MLB (MLB.com via JTA)

July 13, 2021, 2:27 am

Jacob Steinmetz becomes first known Orthodox Jewish player drafted into the MLB

Steinmetz, from Long Island, known for his blazing fastball, picked 77th overall by Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball draft

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.

This will be the first Israeli baseball team to play in the Olympics. (Courtesy of Israel Baseball/ via JTA)

July 11, 2021, 3:03 am

Olympics-bound Team Israel drives home Jewish identity for its American players

The baseball squad has four native-born Israelis and a diverse group of Jews from around the US with varying backgrounds, but a shared history makes this team closer than most

By Gabe Friedman

Leah Goldstein pushes hard in the last 500 miles of Race Across America 2021, June 24, 2021. (Tara Roberts/RAAM Media)

July 10, 2021, 8:36 am

Jewish Canadian cyclist is first woman to win toughest ultra-endurance race

Crossing finish line in 11 days, 3 hours and 3 minutes, Leah Goldstein traverses 3,000 miles to take first place in overall solo in grueling Race Across America

By Renee Ghert-Zand