SubscribeThe things we keep
Marty Appel was kind enough to send me a copy of the Official 2007 Yearbook of the Israel Baseball League. Appel, who used to handle PR for the Yankees back in the 1970s, has his finger in just about every Jewish/sports pie, including the IBL, the Jewish Major Leaguer Card set, and the Maccabi Haifa Heat basketball team.
One of his duties with the Yankees was to head up its publications, including yearbooks. So it was only natural he lend his expertise to the IBL publication.
To call this a collector’s item is to damn with faint praise, since the league shut down after its initial season.
Within its scant pages are stories — in English and Hebrew — about the origins of the IBL, the fundamentals of the game, and baseball in America, as well as a schedule for all of the six original teams, complete rosters, a unique scorecard that includes a “home run derby tie-breaker, ” and an English-Hebrew baseball dictionary.
So thanks again, Marty, for the belated Hanukka present.
Sorry the league didn’t make it. Hopefully it returns someday soon. I liked the ceremonial drafting of Sandy Koufax with the last pick in the the initial draft too. By the way, there’s also an Israeli Football (American football that is) league.