Bookshelf review: Jews and Baseball, Volume 1: Entering the American Mainstream, 1871-1948

by Burton A. Boxerman and Benita W. Boxerman, 2007, McFarland Publishing, Jefferson, NC, 232 pages, $32.95.

While there have been other books about Jewish baseball players, none packs as much of a scholarly punch as this new title. Every player considered Jewish as defined by the Jewish Major Leaguers baseball card set is accounted for, regardless of his on-field accomplishments, but the authors have done a substantial service by documenting the contributions of those who played behind the scenes.

Sportswriters like Jacob Morse, Dan Daniel, and Shirley Povich offered their observations and insight in a time before 24-hour sports on cable television made reading almost obsolete. Without Louis Heilbroner and Al and Walter Elias, “the keepers of the stats,” responsible for compiling and disseminating all those figures — like AB, BA, and ERA — what would fans pore over during their morning coffee?

Owners Andrew Freedman, Barney Dreyfuss, Emil Fuchs, and Sidney Weil, among others, also receive recognition for their achievements, as does Albert “Dolly” Stark, one of the game’s most innovative umpires.

The baseball highlights in Jews and Baseball are secondary to the Yiddishkeit, the family backgrounds, and the players’ relationship with Judaism before and after their careers. Some had to deal with anti-Semitism; a few changed their names to hide their identities from family members and possible antagonists alike. Others were more fortunate, almost defiant, in presenting their Judaism.

Non-sports fans might overlook this book, but Jews and Baseball belongs next to any other study about the Jewish-American experience.