Greenberg and Koufax were the two hall-of-famers who were ultimate Jewish role models for me. Although neither were very ritually observant Jews, they understood that the holiest Jewish day of the year takes precedence over all other activities.
The journalist and poet, Edgar Guest, composed a beautiful poem about Hank Greenberg refraining to play on Yom Kippur, in 1934. He wrote:
The Irish didn't like it when they heard of Greenberg's fame
For they thought a good first baseman should possess an Irish name;
And the Murphys and Mulrooneys said they never dreamed they'd see
A Jewish boy from Bronxville out where Casey used to be.
In the early days of April not a Dugan tipped his hat
Or prayed to see a "double" when Hank Greenberg came to bat.
In July the Irish wondered where he'd ever learned to play.
"He makes me think of Casey!" Old Man Murphy dared to say;
And with fifty-seven doubles and a score of homers made
The respect they had for Greenberg was being openly displayed.
But upon the Jewish New Year when Hank Greenberg came to bat
And made two home runs off Pitcher Rhodes-
They cheered like mad for that.
Came Yom Kippur-holy feast day world wide over to the Jew-
And Hank Greenberg to his teaching and the old tradition true
Spent the day among his people and he didn't come to play.
Said Murphy to Mulrooney, "We shall lose the game today!
We shall miss him on the infield and shall miss him at the bat,
But he's true to his religion-and I honor him for that!"
Sandy Koufax was also "true to his religion". In 1965, when Sandy Koufax refused to pitch in Game One of the World Series because it was Yom Kippur, Don Drysdale pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Subsequently, he gave up seven runs in 2 and 2/3 innings. Drysdale quipped to his manager, Walter Aston: "I bet right now you wish I was Jewish, too."
Another prominent all-star Jewish ballplayer, Al Rosen, also never played on Yom Kippur. The Jerusalem Post wrote about Mr. Rosen: "He was a proud Jew who went out of his way to make his Jewish identity known."
Jose Bautista was a journeyman ball player who pitched for five different teams over his 1987-1997 playing career. His mother was Israeli, and he told the Village Voice: "My family and I go to synagogue when we can, and we pray every Friday. We fast on Yom Kippur, and not only do I not pitch, I don't even go to the ball game."
All-Star Shawn Green made refraining from playing on Yom Kippur front page news when he vocally chose to follow in Koufax's footsteps. He told journalists: "There is nothing I would rather do than play against the Giants in a pennant race, but some things take precedence over that."
Some things within our lives really need to take precedence. This year Yom Kippur falls on a Friday night and Saturday. For many of our young people they are urged by their coaches to play for their team. However, the secular fundamentalist fail to understand that there are matters of the heart, soul and mind that take precedence over our love of sports, and our commitment to our athletic teammates.
For 3800 years the Jewish people have thrived because we know when we need to prioritize our commitments. Every child who has a conflict this weekend has a choice: Do you wish to be a Jewish sports hero, or not? This weekend; if they want to be a Jewish hero; they tell their coaches and non-Jewish teammates: "I wish you well, but, I'm spending the day among my people and I can't come to play." In this way they will be true to their religion and themselves, and they will forever be honored for this mitzvah.
Shabbat Shalom & Gemar Chatimah Tovah!!
-Rabbi Mitch
