SubscribeWe already play “Hava Negila,” isn’t that enough?
It’s gratifying to see how many teams — Major and Minor league — are conducting programs celebrating their ethnic fans, including Jews.
- The Dodgers were the first team to do so, beating the Mets on May 19; Brad Ausmus didn’t get into the contest.
- The Florida Marlins hosted theirs against Gabe Kapler and the Tampa Bay Rays on May 24 (Kapler didn’t play that day). Marlins won 5-4 in 11 innings.
- Scott Feldman, Ian Kinsler, and the Texas Rangers hosted their Jewish game on May 31 against Craig Breslow and the Oakland As. Kinsler went 1-5, Feldman didn’t pitch, and Breslow pitched 1/3 of an inning, giving up a double that drove in two runs, but Oakland still won, 5-4.
- Other teams that have Jewish-themed games on their schedule include the Mets on Aug. 16 against the San Francisco Giants (maybe Ryan Sadowski will be back by then); the Phillies on Aug. 20 vs. Scott Schoeneweis (and Josh Whitesell?) and the rest of the Arizona Diamondbacks; and the Giants on Aug. 27 against the Diamondbacks.
The Newark Bears, in the Atlantic (Independent) League, held Jewish Heritage Night on June 25, when they welcomed Adam Greenberg and the Bridgeport Bluefish. The Bears ate the ‘Fish, 5-4. Greenberg, you may recall, had one at bat in the Majors. It came as a member of the Cubs in 2005 when he was hit in the head by a pitch, an injury that sidelined him with a concussion and various aftereffects. He’s still trying to get back.
The Brooklyn Cyclones, the Mets’ Single-A affiliate, held their Jewish game on July 7, enjoying a 3-2 win over the Aberdeen Ironbirds (seriously, who comes up with these names?) The video was produced by JTA.
Most recently, the Trenton Thunder (Yankees, AA) held their program on July 8, beating the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (what the heck is a Fisher Cat?), 2-1. Howard Megdal, author of The Baseball Talmud, was on hand with his wife, Rachel, to do a little shmoozing.
A Fisher Cat (or fisher) is a vicious animal with a tail (and razor sharp teeth) that in some ways resemble a cat. They are widely known in New Hampshire to attack and eat domesticated pets, especially dogs.
Adorable!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisher_(animal)