Who Was The First Jewish Baseball Player?

The first Jewish baseball player was Lipman “Lip” Pike, who played for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1866. Pike was born in New York City to a Jewish family, and his career in baseball began when he was just a teenager. He quickly rose through the ranks of the sport, and by the time he was in his early 20s, he was one of the best players in the country.

Hank Greenberg

Hank Greenberg was the first Jewish baseball player. He was born in New York City in 1911. Hank played his first professional game in 1930 with the Detroit Tigers. He was one of the most popular players of his time and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.

Early life

Hank Greenberg was born Henry Benjamin Greenberg in New York City, the son of Sarah and David Greenberg, immigrants from Chernigov Governorate, Russian Empire. He had two younger siblings. His father worked in the garment industry. When Hank was three, his family moved to a then-rural part of Stamford, Connecticut.

As a child, Hank grew up playing sandlot baseball with his friends. His favorite player was Yankee slugger Babe Ruth and he dreamed of one day playing for the Yankees himself. When he was just 10 years old, Hank’s dream almost came true when he had a chance to try out for the Yankees. Unfortunately, Hank did not make the team and instead he enrolled in Weaver High School in Hartford, Connecticut.

Major league career

Hank Greenberg played in the Major Leagues for 17 seasons, interrupted by three years of military service during World War II. Born and raised in New York City, he was a power-hitting right fielder who won two American League MVP awards and was a five-time All-Star. He played the majority of his Major League career for the Detroit Tigers, helping them win four AL pennants and two World Series championships.

In 1947, Greenberg became one of the first Jewish baseball players to be voted MVP. He hit 58 home runs that year, a single-season record for a right-handed hitter that stood for more than 30 years. Hank Greenberg’s Hall of Fame career ended prematurely due to injuries, but his accomplishments rank him among the greatest Jewish baseball players of all time.

Legacy

Although Hank Greenberg never wanted to be known as a Jewish ballplayer, his accomplishments both on and off the field advanced the cause of Jewish American acceptance at a critical time in history. Greenberg was one of the first Jewish American superstars in baseball, and his career paralleled a time of heightened anti-Semitism in America. His accomplishments as a slugger and RBI leader helped break down stereotypes and paved the way for future Jewish American baseball players. Today, Hank Greenberg is considered one of the game’s greatest hitters, and his legacy continues to inspire Jewish American athletes.

Sandy Koufax

Sandy Koufax was born on December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. He was a left-handed pitcher who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago White Sox. Koufax was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Early life

Sandy Koufax was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family on December 30, 1935. His parents, Evelyn and Jack Braun, divorced when he was three years old. Koufax’s mother was a homemaker and his father worked as a newspaper advertising salesman. He grew up in the borough’s Brooklyn Heights section and attended Lafayette High School. At age 15, he was diagnosed with arthritis in his right elbow, which eventually led to his early retirement from baseball.

Major league career

Koufax’s major league career began in 1955, when the Brooklyn Dodgers offered him a $6,000 signing bonus to play for their farm team, the Montreal Royals. He joined the Dodgers in 1955 and was assigned to their Brooklyn farm team. He made his major league debut on June 24, 1955. Koufax was sent back to the minor leagues after just two games.

In 1956, Koufax pitched for the Class AAA Newport News Dodgers. He had a 14–9 win-loss record and a 3.69 earned run average (ERA). He was recalled to Brooklyn in September 1956. He appeared in one game, pitching two innings and giving up three hits and one run.

The following season, Koufax split his time between Brooklyn and Montreal. In 11 games with the Dodgers, he had an 0–3 win-loss record and a 7.53 ERA. In 20 games with Montreal, he had a 6–6 record and a 3.00 ERA.

Legacy

Sandy Koufax’s career with the Dodgers came to an end in 1966 due to elbow problems. He had undergone several operations, but none were able to completely repair the damage. Koufax retired at age 30, having played in only 10 full seasons. He became the youngest player ever elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1972.

Koufax’s retirement left an opening for other Jewish players to enter Major League Baseball. One of the most notable is Hank Greenberg, who played for the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946. Greenberg was a four-time All-Star and two-time American League MVP. He was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956.

Other prominent Jewish baseball players include Ian Kinsler, Kevin Youkilis, and Ryan Braun. Youkilis and Braun were both named Most Valuable Player of their respective leagues (American League and National League) in 2011. Kinsler, a four-time All-Star second baseman, currently plays for the Los Angeles Angels.

Ryan Braun

Jews have been playing baseball since the late 19th century, but it was not until Ryan Braun, who made his MLB debut in 2007, that a Jew became a regular starter in the league.

Early life

Ryan Joseph Braun (born November 17, 1983) is an American baseball left fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a pitcher in college before being drafted by the Brewers in the first round of the 2005 MLB draft as a third baseman. He was moved to outfielder during his rookie year in 2007.

Braun played college baseball for the University of Miami, where he was a two-time All-American. The Brewers drafted him fifth overall in 2005. He was considered a top prospect until he tested positive for steroids in 2006 and subsequently missed 50 games because of his suspension from Major League Baseball (MLB). In his first full season after returning from suspension and moving to left field Braun won the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year and Silver Slugger awards, becoming the only player to win both openly as a rookie.

Major league career

Ryan Braun was born on November 17, 1983, in Los Angeles, California. He was the first Jewish baseball player to be named National League Rookie of the Year. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2007 to 2017. In 2011, he was named National League Most Valuable Player.

Braun was drafted by the Brewers in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. He made his Major League debut on May 25, 2007. In his rookie season, he hit .324 with 34 home runs and 97 RBIs. He was named National League Rookie of the Year.

In 2011, Braun had his best season as a professional. He hit .332 with 33 home runs and 111 RBIs. He was named National League Most Valuable Player.

In 2013, Braun was suspended for 65 games for violating baseball’s drug policy. He admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Legacy

Ryan Braun is an American baseball player who became the first Jewish player to win the National League MVP award in 2011. He was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1983, and his family moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, when he was four years old. Braun was a standout player in both baseball and basketball at Granada Hills High School in Los Angeles. He chose to play baseball at the University of Miami, where he was named “Big East Player of the Year” in 2005.

Braun was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, and he made his major league debut with the team in 2007. He quickly established himself as one of the best young players in baseball, winning the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2007 and being named to five consecutive All-Star teams from 2008 to 2012. In 2011, Braun had one of the best seasons of his career, hitting .332 with 33 home runs and 111 RBIs en route to winning the NL MVP award.

Despite his success on the field, Braun has been embroiled in controversy off it. In 2012, he was accused of using performance-enhancing drugs and was suspended for 65 games by Major League Baseball. He has also been accused of being unfaithful to his wife, Molly Lowenthal, who he married in 2012.