SubscribeMs. Congeniality?
Boston Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis might have come up short on the official MLB MVP awards, but he’s a winner in the eyes of JewishMajorLeaguers.org.
The not-for-profit educational organization, whose mission is to celebrate the contributions of Jews to America’s national pastime, named Youkilis the “JMVP” — Jewish MVP — for 2008, beating out fellow all-stars Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers and Ian Kinsler of Texas Rangers for the honor. Youkilis, third in the “regular” American League MVP voting, hit 29 homes runs, drove in 129 runs, and batted .312; he also set a Major League record by playing in 238 consecutive errorless games at first base, a streak that began in 2006.
Braun, the 2007 NL Rookie of the Year, also finished third in his league’s MVP race. He gave up his third base position and moved to left field, went 37-106-.285, and was in the league’s top ten in several offensive categories. He and Jewish teammate Gabe Kapler helped push the Brewers into the post-season for the first time in more than 20 years.
Kinsler, used mostly in the lead-off position, was also enjoying a great year, batting .316 with 17 home runs, 76 RBI, and 102 runs scored before he missed the last six weeks of the season with an injury.
Pittsburgh reliever John Grabow edged Minnesota’s Craig Breslow for the Barney Pelty Award for Jewish Pitcher of the Year. Pelty, who pitched for the old St. Louis Browns at the turn of the last century, is the all-time Jewish earned run average leader with a mark of 2.63. Grabow had a 6-3 record with four saves in 74 appearances for the Pirates, posting a 2.84 ERA.
Kapler, who had retired as an active player and was managing in the minor leagues in 2007, was the unanimous winner of JML’s Comeback Player of the Year award. He hit .301 in 96 games for the Brewers last season.
In an e-mail to Kaplan’s Korner, Kapler said “It’s great to be recognized by the Jewish community for a solid season. My thanks go out to JML!”
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The photos — from the upcoming 2009 set — come courtesy of JewishMajorLeaguers.org. JML has issued a set of cards featuring every known Jewish player in history since 2003, and has issued updates each season since, as well as a set celebrating the inaugural (and so far only) season of the Israel Baseball League. JML has hosted two symposiums at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, last year’s honoring Hank Greenberg. For more information, visit www.jewishmajorleaguers.org.
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Ron –
What is your basis for including him in the list of Jewish baseball players?
I know a lot was made when he was first called up about him being a Jewish ball player, but he’s been pretty upfront about claiming no religion, and his mom has been pretty up front about questioning the fact that he’s being called a Jewish baseball player.
I know it’s easy to include him, because his dad is Israeli, but if he doesn’t practice or participate in any Jewish religion or customs, how do we just his Judaism?
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We answered:
to which Mitch added:
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definitely fair. it’s been a tough issue here in Milwaukee. When Ryan was first called up, I wrote an article for the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle about his Judaism. My interview with him was very basic, and he did mention he was proud of his heritage and history – although admitted he never had a bar mitzvah, or went to synnagogue ever, etc.
We ran with the fact that he was a Jewish athlete, but the more research I did, the more I have come to question it.
This past season, there was an article written that was picked up by The Forward and many Jewish newspapers, about whether Braun would play on Yom Kippur. It was an exceedingly funny concept to me – as Braun doesn’t even know when Yom Kippur is, or what it is. It’s just not on his radar, as it wouldn’t be for a non Jew.
so, those are my two cents.
Thanks Ron!
A lot of these so-called Jewish ballplayers seem to have little interest. I would like to know which, if any, demonstrate some cultural attachment (religion doesn’t concern me as I’m not) to the Jewish people. If they don’t care, that’s certainly their right, but I don’t see much point in “claiming” him. It’s fun to root for Jews in sports because there is ostensibly some ethnic or cultural affinity but if the guy really has no connection to the Jewish community(e.g. Al Davis), that’s certainly his right, but why bother? It’s also not fair to the player; everyone has the right in this country to choose which connections he wants to make and, if a player chooses not to connect with Judiasm, he shouldn’t be “brought into the fold” just because he has the right name.