Nu, where else should Jewish Ballplayers play?
You probably shouldn’t get Mel Gibson Mets tickets anytime soon either.
Shawn Green’s career with the Diamondbacks has come to an end.
The veteran outfielder was dealt along with cash considerations to the Mets on Tuesday in exchange for Minor League left-hander Evan MacLane, the Diamondbacks announced Tuesday night.
Arguably the most prominent active Jewish ballplayer, Green’s arrival in New York (while not exactly the second coming of Sanford Koufax) is a smart pickup for the Mets, who try to shore up their outfield in time for the stretch run. But with the Mets making a serious run to the National League pennant, the chaggim located prominently in September/October, and with Yom Kippur day conceivably the Mets first playoff game, will Green sit the games out, Sandy style?? My hope is that Youklis, Gabe Kapler, and Theo won’t have to worry about that dilemma.
Somewhere in heaven, my Nanny’s excited Shawn Green is coming to Queens. But I still prefer my Jews for Jeter gear.
Update: our focus on the Jewish perspective scooped the AP wire:
As baseball’s most prominent Jewish player, Green said the opportunity to continue his career in New York was another factor that persuaded him to agree to the trade.
“It’s something that’s always intrigued me,” Green said. “New York is head and shoulders the largest Jewish population in the country, if not the world, and it will be an interesting and fun experience for me. I’m looking forward to being part of the Jewish community there.”
Welcome, Shawn Green. (Now, are there any Jewish starting pitchers available?)
While we’re on the subject of baseball, here’s a trivia question: which of the original 16 Major league teams was the second-to-last to accept a black player? (Consolation prize for those who won’t like the answer: What was the very last team?)
Oh, and which National League predecessor of the Mets (from which the Mets get the blue in their uniforms) was the first?
J,
The same team who was the last was almost the first. Red Sox.
The Tigers were second to last to integrate. The Mets get their blue from the Dodgers, their NY and orange from the Giants (which clearly must’ve caused some fistfights in Manhattan/Brooklyn).
Oops. Ruby is right. The Tigers were the second to last. So I’ll ask two new questions: which team was thirteenth of the sixteen original teams , waiting until 1955 (a full eight seasons following Jackie Robinson’s debut) to integrate? And how can anyone justify rooting for that team?
Wait, how were the Red Sox almost the first?
Don’t worry, there won’t be any baseball games on October 2 this year, except tiebreakers. And given the Mets’ lead, the chances of their being in a tiebreaker are pretty remote.
MSS-i would NOT be so sure. Given MLB’s enslavement to television (you try figuring out which playoff game you’re going to without any idea whether its day or night), it would not at all surprise me. Note there’s no playoff schedule for ’06 on MLB’s site. there’s a reason for that.
J- I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you, i was busy listening to your mysogenist coke snorting former first baseman hawk just for men with Walt Frazier. No Play for Mr. Gray. But it is nice to see the Mets finally integrated the front office, whereas Bob Watson was the General Manager at the helm when the Yanks returned to glory 10 years ago.
Smoot,
If I remember correctly, the Red Sox seriously considered taking Robinson.
J, Ruby K, is that correct?
Sort of. The Sux held an insincere tryout for three African American ballplayers after a Jewish City Councilmember told the Red Sox and Braves that if they didn’t make efforts to integrate, he would block the resolution allowing the Braves and Sux to play on Sunday (in violation of the Blue Laws).
http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/mhr/6/stout.html
Ruby K-
Do you think it’s wise to bring up substance abuse by a Mets first baseman from 20 years ago? Does a certain team feature a substance abusing first baseman RIGHT NOW? (Not to mention that Keith’s little habit at least wasn’t cheating, unlike that big pinstriped juicer.)
Do the Yankees have pinstripes on their pointy hoods?
Accusing one of the most ethnically diverse teams in baseball of wearing hoods? Whoa, I guess your random false smears go beyond political posts. If I were you, I’d focus on keeping Pedro’s toe from falling off and not taking any cabs anyplace. I would’ve hoped you would not be so bitter (after all, the subway asskicking was six years ago, do you have to be so defensive?). As for comeback player of the year Jason Giambi, he messed up, fessed up (more than we can say for anyone else who’s been caught on the juice), then rebuilt his career. Thought you mets fans liked to focus on human interest stories (what with the lack of baseball after early october).
(note to all: this is in good fun. or at least, i can taunt mets/red sux fans all day long and not be offended. with all the insanity in the world, a few heckling comments should be good for a laugh.)
yes, the sox seriously considered taking robinson, if you call this ‘seriously considered’:
“Oddly enough, the Red Sox held a tryout at Fenway Park for Jackie Robinson in April 1945. But with only management in the stands, someone yelled “Get those niggers off the field,” according to a reporter who was there that day.”
(from: http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/2002/oct/redsox/)
while it is difficult to defend the lack of black players on the yankees between 1947 and 1955 (and prior to 1947, for that matter), to imply that their history compares poorly with that of the sox is incorrect at best. to insert the mets into the debate is irrelevant, as no one can retrospectively speculate how their management would have acted, or what the circumstances would have been.
i can tell you that one of the cities i’ve mentioned still gets shunned by athletes who are members of minority groups, and it’s not new york.
Ruby K, sure, MLB may very well be “enslaved” to TV. I won’t argue with you on that. But the first Monday after the final scheduled regular-season game is over is ALWAYS left open for possible tiebreakers.
The Division Series start in staggered fashion on Tuesday and Wednesday, never Monday.
The reason the schedule is not up yet is pretty straightforward: They do not know which teams will be playing.