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{{short description|Professional baseball league in Israel}}
The '''Israel Baseball League (IBL)''' is a new professional baseball league in ]. The first game is scheduled to be played on June 24, ].
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox sports league
| current_season =
| logo = Israel Baseball League.jpg
| pixels = 150px
| sport = ]
| founded = 2007
| folded = 2007
| teams = 5
| champion = ]
| country = ]
| inaugural = ]
| website =
}}


The '''Israel Baseball League''' ('''IBL'''; ]: ליגת הבייסבול הישראלית, ''Ligat ha-Beisbol ha-Israelit'') was a five-team ] league in ]. The first game was played on June 24, 2007.<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120709093840/http://www.ibaf.org/en/nation/ebcc9784-ed5b-4471-8b1b-42fb474e9511 |date=July 9, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="israelibaseball.blogspot.com">{{cite web|url=http://israelibaseball.blogspot.com|title=Baseball in Israel|website=israelibaseball.blogspot.com}}</ref> The league was discontinued following its debut season.
==Players==


== League structure ==
Players will be ] or non-Jewish, native Israelis and others. Those already selected are current and former U.S. ], ] players from other countries, and starting ] players.
The current league teams are the ], ], ], ], ]. Former teams include ], ], and ]. <ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122272#.VZBcu-1Viko |title=Sandy Koufax Drafted to Israel Baseball League|last= HaLevi |first=Exra |date=April 29, 2007 |newspaper=Arutz Sheva |access-date=June 28, 2015}}</ref>


The teams play games at four ]s. The ], seating 15,000, in the ] Village in ], just outside ], is home to the Ra'anana Express and the Tel Aviv teams. ], about halfway between ] and ], is home to the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox. The ] is used for the Misgav team.
The IBL has signed players from eight countries, including the ], ], ], and the ]. About a dozen players will be Israeli.
in the past, ], in Tel Aviv, was shared by the Tel Aviv Lightning and the Netanya Tigers.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jstandard.com/articles/2572/1/%22Batter-up%22! |location=New Jersey |work=Jewish Standard |date=2007-04-27 |access-date=2007-07-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120907050142/http://www.jstandard.com/articles/2572/1/%22Batter-up%22%21 |archive-date=September 7, 2012 }}</ref>


{{Image label begin|image=Israel map.png|width=262|float=right}}
The League has held tryouts in ], ], ], and ]. Upcoming tryouts will be in ] on April 15, ] at ], and will be overseen by Dan Duquette.
{{Image label small|x=-130.0|y=-297|scale=-1|text=]}}
{{Image label small|x=-140.0|y=-100|scale=-1|text=]}}
{{Image label small|x=-106|y=-230.0|scale=-1|text=]}}
{{Image label small|x=-10.0|y=-240|scale=-1|text=]}}
{{Image label small|x=-5.0|y=-250.0|scale=-1|text=]}}
{{Image label end}}


== Players ==
It is expected that the quality of play will be that of ] ball in the U.S.
The IBL had 120 players from nine countries in 2007: the United States (77 from 19 states), the ] (16), Israel (15), Canada (9), Australia (7), ], Japan, New Zealand, and ]. The league had hoped to be made up of at least 25% Israelis by its fifth year. About 40% of the league was Jewish.<ref>Wohlgelernter, Elle. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928042338/http://www.israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El1690&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Culture |date=September 28, 2007 }} ''Israel21c'', 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2007-07-09.</ref>


The league held tryouts in 2007 in Los Angeles, ], ], Israel, and ]. Those selected were current and former U.S. ], ] players from other countries, and starting ] players.
One example of a player for the IBL is former ] and ] baseball player Dan Rootenberg, a 4-year standout and 1994 graduate of Binghamton. He was the first player signed by the IBL. A prolific left-handed hitting outfielder, Rootenberg played at Binghamton from ]-1994. During his senior season, he led the team in nearly every major offensive category, including a .407 batting average, garnering both All-SUNYAC and All-State honors. Rootenberg has played professionally for the ] of the independent ] (whom he signed with in 1994), and has coached and played in Europe in the Swiss professional league. He played for four years as an outfielder and first baseman for the Pleasantville Red Sox, and in 2006 he batted .351 for the Fordham Red Sox of the
Westchester Rockland Wood Bat League.


The first pick in the draft was ] Aaron Levin, 21, who played for ] and was selected by Modi'in.<ref name=ynetnews>{{cite news |url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3392926,00.html|title=Israeli league team drafts Koufax as tribute |publisher=] |access-date=June 15, 2008}}</ref> The first players signed were outfielder Dan Rootenberg and pitcher ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/first-two-players-sign-up-for-israel-s-fledgling-pro-league-1.201369|title=First two players sign up for Israel's fledgling Pro league|date=October 13, 2006|work=]|access-date=28 June 2015}}</ref>
Another projected standout in the league is ] pitcher Leon Feingold. Also among the group of four players first signed, Feingold pitched in the ] system from ]-1995, and was signed by the independent ] in 1999. A graduate of ], Feingold has also pitched with the Pleasantville Red Sox as a teammate of Rootenberg's, and in 2006 recorded an ERA of 1.03 in limited action.


Pitcher ] was the last player chosen in the draft, by the Modi'in Miracle. "His selection is a tribute to the esteem with which he is held by everyone associated with this league," said team manager ].<ref name=ynetnews />
==Managers==
Among the first managers of the IBL will be three of the best-known Jewish former major leaguers: ] (whose 174 career victories are the most in the major leagues by a Jewish pitcher), ] (who hit .300 for the '69 World Champion ]), and ] (a former ], and the first DH in the major leagues). Other managers will include ] and Shaun Smith.


After the one IBL season, nine players went on to other professional leagues. These nine players were:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/10629-israel-baseball-league-ibl-players-entering-mlb-and-international-leagues|title=Israel Baseball League: IBL Players Entering MLB and International Leagues|first=Mitch|last=Gold|website=] }}</ref>
==Teams==
*], who was signed by the ], and in 2008 played for their A+, AA, and AAA teams
*], who also was signed by the ]
*], who signed with the Japanese champion ]
*Juan Feliciano, who turned down AAA offers from the ], ], and ] to sign with the ] of the ]
*], who signed and played with the Adelaide Giants of the Australian Baseball League
*Rafael Bergstrom, who signed and played with the ] (])
*Jason Benson, who signed and played with the ] (])
*Josh Doane, who was invited to spring training to try out for the ], and in 2008 hit .278 for Texas of the Continental League
*Michael Olson, Signed as international free agent by Red Sox, but retired due to shoulder injury


== 2007 season ==
Six IBL teams are set so far -- the ] Tigers, ] Lightning, ] Blue Sox, and ] Miracle,
{{Main|2007 Israel Baseball League season}}
] Express, and ] Pioneers. The teams will play games at three ball parks: one in Petach Tikvah, just outside of ]; another at Kibbutz Gezer, approximately halfway between Tel Aviv and ]; and one at Sportek Baseball Field in Tel Aviv.
The league<ref name="israelibaseball.blogspot.com" /> had an eight-week, 45-game season. Games were seven innings, with a home run hitting contest (a "]") to decide a tie. There were two umpires per game, with three on Sunday nights. Most of the umpires were international, although some were Israeli.


Bet Shemesh (29–12; .707), led by hitters Gregg Raymundo and Jason Rees,<ref name=stats>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/stats/|title=israelbaseballleague.com: Stats|publisher=www.israelbaseballleague.com|access-date=June 15, 2008}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> had the best regular season record in the league, and finished with a 2.5 game lead over Tel Aviv (26–14; .650), led by pitchers Aaron Pribble and Daniel Kaufman.<ref name=stats />
==Player Draft==


On August 19, in Petach Tikva, Ron Blomberg's Bet Shemesh Blue Sox shut out Art Shamsky's Modi'in Miracle 3–0 in the IBL's inaugural championship game. Californian RHP Rafael Bergstrom (7–2, 2.44) pitched a complete-game shutout for Bet Shemesh, downing Dominican RHP Maximo Nelson (5–3, 3.55 ERA) who pitched for Modi'in.
The Israel Baseball League NYC Launch and Official Player Draft will be held at the ] in New York City on Thursday, April 26th.


==Management== === Hitting ===
Catcher and former ] ]r ] of Modi'in was the league batting champion (.461) and had 16 home runs in 102 at bats, and 23-year-old Australian ] Jason Rees led the league with 17 home runs and 50 RBIs in 130 at bats.<ref name=stats /> Rodriguez, 28 years old, and Rees, 24 years old, were both subsequently signed in October to minor league deals by the ].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/sports/baseball/25yankees.html | work=The New York Times | title=Yanks' Manager Pick Not as Easy as 1, 2 or 3 | first=Tyler | last=Kepner | date=October 25, 2007 | access-date=May 5, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waswatching.com/archives/2007/10/jason_rees_and.html|title=WasWatching.com: Jason Rees And Eladio Rodriguez|publisher=www.waswatching.com|access-date=June 17, 2008}}</ref> Third baseman Gregg Raymundo, who hit .292 in 7 minor league seasons and played for the ]' and ]' AAA teams,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/R/Gregg-Raymundo.shtml|title=Gregg Raymundo Statistics – The Baseball Cube|publisher=www.thebaseballcube.com|access-date=June 17, 2008}}</ref> was a close second in batting with a .459 batting average.<ref name=stats />


=== Pitching ===
The Commissioner of the league is ], former ] to Israel and ].
One of the leading pitchers was ] of ], who had pitched for the 2005–06 ] in Japan. He was 7–1, with a 1.97 ERA, and in 50.1 innings gave up only 28 hits while striking out 73. 6' 5" lefthander Aaron Pribble of Tel Aviv was 7–2, with a league-leading 1.94 ERA. Rafael Bergstrom was 7–2, with a 2.44 ERA. Daniel Kaufman, who pitched for ], held opposing batters to a .170 batting average. And 6' 6" ] from ], in the ], led the league with 85 strikeouts; he pitched for the ] in 2004 (posting a 6–5 record, with a 2.63 ERA). Israel native ] (3–1) 1SV 0.98 ERA of Netanya, Mike Etkin (4–0) 2SV of Tel Aviv, and ](3–2) 1SV 1/13 P INH Rr of Bet Shemesh were the league's top relievers.


=== Awards ===
The league's Director of Baseball Operations is ], former General Manager of the ] and ].
The ] Award for Most Valuable Player was shared by Eladio Rodriguez and Raymundo.<ref name=awards>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/news/pressreleases/index.html?article_id=145|title=israelbaseballleague.com: Press Releases|publisher=www.israelbaseballleague.com|access-date=June 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915185416/http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/news/pressreleases/index.html?article_id=145|archive-date=September 15, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Commissioner's Award for Sportsmanship and Character went to Pribble and infielder Brendan Rubenstein (Ra'anana Express).<ref name=awards /> The Commissioner's Award for Distinguished Service was awarded to shortstop Eric Holtz of Bet Shemesh, a player-coach who filled in as player-manager.<ref name=awards /> The award for best pitcher went to Feliciano, and the Most Valuable Israeli Player was pitcher Dan Rothem of Tel Aviv.<ref name=awards /> In a leaguewide vote of the players (referred to as the 'Schnitzel Awards'), Player of the Year was awarded to Leon Feingold.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPOkWVp2ejk |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/aPOkWVp2ejk |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live|title=Schnitzel Awards|date=August 18, 2007 |publisher=www.israelbaseballleague.com|access-date=March 15, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="israelibaseball.blogspot.com" />


== Managers ==
The League is the brainchild of Larry Baras, a businessman from ].
Among the first ] of the IBL were three of the best-known Jewish former major leaguers: ] was the manager of Bet Shemesh. Due to other commitments, Blomberg turned over managerial duties to ] Eric Holtz, while ] took over as ] for several weeks during the middle of the season. ] managed Modi'in and ] managed Petach Tikva until he resigned a week before the season ended, and was replaced by Tony Ferrara.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 14, 2007 |url=http://www.jpost.com/Sports/IBL-Holtzman-leaves-Pioneers-with-one-week-to-play |title=IBL: Holtzman leaves Pioneers with one week to play| work=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=April 7, 2015 |last=Last |first=Jeremy}}</ref> In addition, ] managed Tel Aviv, ], an Australian, managed Ra'anana,<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515222248/http://www.israelbaseballleague.com/about/managers/index.html?staff_id=36 |date=May 15, 2007 }}, ''israelbaseballleague.com''. Retrieved 2007-07-09.</ref> and Ami Baran, an Israeli originally from Chicago, managed Netanya.<ref>{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''israelbaseballleague.com''. Retrieved 2007-07-09.</ref>


== Management ==
The league's Board of Advisors includes among others: Professor ] (baseball economist), ] (Major League Baseball Commissioner), ] (former ] owner), ] (minority owner of the ], and principal owner of four minor league teams), Marshall Glickman (former president of the ] ], and former president of a minor league baseball team), and ] (former ] ] director).
] of the Israel Baseball League]]
The League was the brainchild of Larry Baras, a businessman from ].


Martin Berger, President and Chief Operating Officer, was a ] trial attorney. The league's Director of Baseball Operations was ], former ] of the ] and ]; currently with the Orioles. Berger and Duquette were involved in selecting the inaugural season players. Bob Ruxin was Director of Business Operations; Ruxin has served as vice president of a sports products and management business. Leon Klarfeld was Director of Israeli Operations; he is a resident of ], and has been involved in Israeli Baseball for over 20 years, was the president of the Israel Association of Baseball (IAB) between 1994 and 2002, and is a certified ] for the ]. Jeremy Baras was the Director of Game (fan) Experience.
==Miscellaneous==
MLB.com will carry coverage of Israel's games.


The Commissioner was ], former ] to Israel and ]. The league's Board of Advisors included: ] (Major League Baseball Commissioner), ] (former ] owner), Marshall Glickman (former president of the ] ] and former president of a minor league baseball team), Professor ] (baseball economist), ] (minority owner of the ] and principal owner of four minor-league teams), Randy Levine (President of the Yankees), and ] (former ] ] director).
==Baseball in Israel==


On November 15, 2007, Kurtzer and nine advisory board members (including Zimbalist, Goldklang, Levine, and Appel) resigned.<ref>{{cite web|title=Israel baseball league Commissioner Kurtzer leads flurry of resignations|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/general/view.bg?articleid%3D1045607|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603181411/http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/other_sports/general/view.bg?articleid=1045607|archive-date=June 3, 2008|access-date=November 18, 2007}}</ref> They commended Baras for having the vision to bring pro baseball to Israel, but in their letter of resignation, summing up the concerns of all, Goldklang and Zimbalist wrote that: "it has become apparent that the business leadership of the league has ceased to perform in an effective, constructive or responsible manner and has failed to manage its capital and other resources in a manner likely to produce successful results."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/wires/11/18/2010.ap.bbi.israel.baseball.0236 | work=CNN}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref> The advisers who resigned said the league was unwilling to provide financial information. Berger, the league president, said: "They were asking us for things that we didn't have yet. We haven't done our financials for this year. We are upset and disappointed that they're leaving, but we are going ahead for next year. We have been talking to people who potentially are going to purchase the teams."<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/18/sports/baseball/18chass.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1 | work=The New York Times | title=Rumors of Drug Use Have Damaged for Decades | first=Murray | last=Chass | date=November 18, 2007 | access-date=May 5, 2010}}</ref>
Baseball was first played in Israel on July 4, ]. The first field in Israel was built in ] Gezer in ], and Israel now has a first-class baseball field at the Yarkon Sports Complex in ]. Israel sends National teams of various age groups to international baseball tournaments each year.


== Media coverage ==
Israel has between 2,000 and 3,000 people regularly playing baseball in amateur league play. Baseball is growing at an accelerated pace, with much greater baseball identity associated with the country.
] aired the opening game, which had attendance of 3,112, on a one-week delay (July 1, 2007), in Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Miami. ] carried coverage of the league's games.<ref>{{cite news|last=Berkman |first=Jacob |url=http://www.stljewishlight.com/topstories/12348156495807.php |title=Israel Baseball League starts in June |location=St. Louis |work=Jewish Light |access-date=2007-07-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927214233/http://www.stljewishlight.com/topstories/12348156495807.php |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>


Aaron Pribble, who pitched for the Tel Aviv Lightning, kept a journal of his summer in the IBL. After the season was over, Pribble created a book of his journey titled ''Pitching in the Promised Land''.<ref>{{cite web |author=James Bailey |date=April 27, 2011 |title=Book Review: Pitching In The Promised Land |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/book-guide/2011/2611636.html |publisher=Baseball America |access-date=April 7, 2015}}, a review of {{cite book |title=Pitching in the Promised Land: A Story of the First and Only Season in the Israel Baseball League |author=Aaron Pribble |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |year=2011}}</ref>
===World Baseball Classic===


== See also ==
Israel has applied to participate in the next ]. Jewish-American professional baseball players
* ]
(such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ], as well as recently retired ]) would be eligible for the team, making it highly competitive from the start.
* ]
* ]


==External links== == Footnotes ==
{{reflist|2}}
*
*
*
*
*
*


== Further reading ==
{{Cleanup|date=October 2006}}


* {{cite book |last= Pribble |first= Aaron |title= Pitching in the Promised Land: A Story of the First and Only Season in the Israel Baseball League |publisher= ] |year= 2011 |isbn= 978-0-8032-3472-7}}
]

== External links ==
* Documentary, "Holy Land Hardball". https://web.archive.org/web/20090824082445/http://www.hulu.com/watch/91195/holy-land-hardball
* (film). 24/6 Studios Productions LLC. Retrieved 2010-08-20
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*], "L'Chayim to the IBL",
*
*
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105035135/http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2007/09/0927/Dickerson.html |date=November 5, 2018 }}
*

{{Baseball in Israel}}
{{Professional Baseball}}

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Latest revision as of 00:59, 17 December 2024

Professional baseball league in Israel

Israel Baseball League
SportBaseball
Founded2007
First season2007
Ceased2007
No. of teams5
CountryIsrael
Last
champion(s)		Bet Shemesh Blue Sox
Official websitebaseball.org.il/en/

The Israel Baseball League (IBL; Hebrew: ליגת הבייסבול הישראלית, Ligat ha-Beisbol ha-Israelit) was a five-team professional baseball league in Israel. The first game was played on June 24, 2007. The league was discontinued following its debut season.

League structure

The current league teams are the Team Misgav, Bet Shemesh Blue Sox, Ra'anana Express, Tel Aviv Lightning, Tel Aviv Academy. Former teams include Netanya Tigers, Petach Tikva Pioneers, and Modi'in Miracle.

The teams play games at four ballparks. The Yarkon Sports Complex, seating 15,000, in the Baptist Village in Petach Tikva, just outside Tel Aviv, is home to the Ra'anana Express and the Tel Aviv teams. Gezer Field, about halfway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, is home to the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox. The Misgav Sports Complex is used for the Misgav team. in the past, Sportek Baseball Field, in Tel Aviv, was shared by the Tel Aviv Lightning and the Netanya Tigers.

Bet Shemesh Blue Sox Team Misgav Ra'anana Express Tel Aviv Academy Tel Aviv Lightning

Players

The IBL had 120 players from nine countries in 2007: the United States (77 from 19 states), the Dominican Republic (16), Israel (15), Canada (9), Australia (7), Colombia, Japan, New Zealand, and Ukraine. The league had hoped to be made up of at least 25% Israelis by its fifth year. About 40% of the league was Jewish.

The league held tryouts in 2007 in Los Angeles, Massachusetts, Miami, Israel, and The Dominican Republic. Those selected were current and former U.S. minor leaguers, professional baseball players from other countries, and starting college players.

The first pick in the draft was infielder Aaron Levin, 21, who played for Cuesta College and was selected by Modi'in. The first players signed were outfielder Dan Rootenberg and pitcher Adam Crabb.

Pitcher Sandy Koufax was the last player chosen in the draft, by the Modi'in Miracle. "His selection is a tribute to the esteem with which he is held by everyone associated with this league," said team manager Art Shamsky.

After the one IBL season, nine players went on to other professional leagues. These nine players were:

2007 season

Main article: 2007 Israel Baseball League season

The league had an eight-week, 45-game season. Games were seven innings, with a home run hitting contest (a "home run derby") to decide a tie. There were two umpires per game, with three on Sunday nights. Most of the umpires were international, although some were Israeli.

Bet Shemesh (29–12; .707), led by hitters Gregg Raymundo and Jason Rees, had the best regular season record in the league, and finished with a 2.5 game lead over Tel Aviv (26–14; .650), led by pitchers Aaron Pribble and Daniel Kaufman.

On August 19, in Petach Tikva, Ron Blomberg's Bet Shemesh Blue Sox shut out Art Shamsky's Modi'in Miracle 3–0 in the IBL's inaugural championship game. Californian RHP Rafael Bergstrom (7–2, 2.44) pitched a complete-game shutout for Bet Shemesh, downing Dominican RHP Maximo Nelson (5–3, 3.55 ERA) who pitched for Modi'in.

Hitting

Catcher and former Boston Red Sox minor leaguer Eladio Rodriguez of Modi'in was the league batting champion (.461) and had 16 home runs in 102 at bats, and 23-year-old Australian right fielder Jason Rees led the league with 17 home runs and 50 RBIs in 130 at bats. Rodriguez, 28 years old, and Rees, 24 years old, were both subsequently signed in October to minor league deals by the New York Yankees. Third baseman Gregg Raymundo, who hit .292 in 7 minor league seasons and played for the Texas Rangers' and Pittsburgh Pirates' AAA teams, was a close second in batting with a .459 batting average.

Pitching

One of the leading pitchers was Juan Feliciano of Beit Shemesh, who had pitched for the 2005–06 Hiroshima Carp in Japan. He was 7–1, with a 1.97 ERA, and in 50.1 innings gave up only 28 hits while striking out 73. 6' 5" lefthander Aaron Pribble of Tel Aviv was 7–2, with a league-leading 1.94 ERA. Rafael Bergstrom was 7–2, with a 2.44 ERA. Daniel Kaufman, who pitched for Emory University, held opposing batters to a .170 batting average. And 6' 6" Maximo Nelson from San Pedro de Macorís, in the Dominican Republic, led the league with 85 strikeouts; he pitched for the Gulf Coast Yankees in 2004 (posting a 6–5 record, with a 2.63 ERA). Israel native Shlomo Lipetz (3–1) 1SV 0.98 ERA of Netanya, Mike Etkin (4–0) 2SV of Tel Aviv, and Scott Perlman(3–2) 1SV 1/13 P INH Rr of Bet Shemesh were the league's top relievers.

Awards

The Hank Greenberg Award for Most Valuable Player was shared by Eladio Rodriguez and Raymundo. The Commissioner's Award for Sportsmanship and Character went to Pribble and infielder Brendan Rubenstein (Ra'anana Express). The Commissioner's Award for Distinguished Service was awarded to shortstop Eric Holtz of Bet Shemesh, a player-coach who filled in as player-manager. The award for best pitcher went to Feliciano, and the Most Valuable Israeli Player was pitcher Dan Rothem of Tel Aviv. In a leaguewide vote of the players (referred to as the 'Schnitzel Awards'), Player of the Year was awarded to Leon Feingold.

Managers

Among the first managers of the IBL were three of the best-known Jewish former major leaguers: Ron Blomberg was the manager of Bet Shemesh. Due to other commitments, Blomberg turned over managerial duties to player/coach Eric Holtz, while Scott Perlman took over as bench coach for several weeks during the middle of the season. Art Shamsky managed Modi'in and Ken Holtzman managed Petach Tikva until he resigned a week before the season ended, and was replaced by Tony Ferrara. In addition, Steve Hertz managed Tel Aviv, Shaun Smith, an Australian, managed Ra'anana, and Ami Baran, an Israeli originally from Chicago, managed Netanya.

Management

The original logo of the Israel Baseball League

The League was the brainchild of Larry Baras, a businessman from Boston.

Martin Berger, President and Chief Operating Officer, was a Miami trial attorney. The league's Director of Baseball Operations was Dan Duquette, former general manager of the Boston Red Sox and Montreal Expos; currently with the Orioles. Berger and Duquette were involved in selecting the inaugural season players. Bob Ruxin was Director of Business Operations; Ruxin has served as vice president of a sports products and management business. Leon Klarfeld was Director of Israeli Operations; he is a resident of Even-Yehuda, and has been involved in Israeli Baseball for over 20 years, was the president of the Israel Association of Baseball (IAB) between 1994 and 2002, and is a certified umpire for the Confederation of European Baseball. Jeremy Baras was the Director of Game (fan) Experience.

The Commissioner was Dan C. Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Egypt. The league's Board of Advisors included: Bud Selig (Major League Baseball Commissioner), Wendy Selig-Prieb (former Milwaukee Brewers owner), Marshall Glickman (former president of the NBA Portland Trail Blazers and former president of a minor league baseball team), Professor Andrew Zimbalist (baseball economist), Marvin Goldklang (minority owner of the New York Yankees and principal owner of four minor-league teams), Randy Levine (President of the Yankees), and Marty Appel (former NY Yankees public relations director).

On November 15, 2007, Kurtzer and nine advisory board members (including Zimbalist, Goldklang, Levine, and Appel) resigned. They commended Baras for having the vision to bring pro baseball to Israel, but in their letter of resignation, summing up the concerns of all, Goldklang and Zimbalist wrote that: "it has become apparent that the business leadership of the league has ceased to perform in an effective, constructive or responsible manner and has failed to manage its capital and other resources in a manner likely to produce successful results." The advisers who resigned said the league was unwilling to provide financial information. Berger, the league president, said: "They were asking us for things that we didn't have yet. We haven't done our financials for this year. We are upset and disappointed that they're leaving, but we are going ahead for next year. We have been talking to people who potentially are going to purchase the teams."

Media coverage

PBS aired the opening game, which had attendance of 3,112, on a one-week delay (July 1, 2007), in Boston, New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Miami. MLB.com carried coverage of the league's games.

Aaron Pribble, who pitched for the Tel Aviv Lightning, kept a journal of his summer in the IBL. After the season was over, Pribble created a book of his journey titled Pitching in the Promised Land.

See also

Footnotes

  1. Israel Association of Baseball Archived July 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Baseball in Israel". israelibaseball.blogspot.com.
  3. HaLevi, Exra (April 29, 2007). "Sandy Koufax Drafted to Israel Baseball League". Arutz Sheva. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  4. Jewish Standard. New Jersey. April 27, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20120907050142/http://www.jstandard.com/articles/2572/1/%22Batter-up%22%21. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved July 9, 2007. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. Wohlgelernter, Elle. "Israel baseball takes the field" Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine Israel21c, 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  6. ^ "Israeli league team drafts Koufax as tribute". Ynetnews. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
  7. "First two players sign up for Israel's fledgling Pro league". Haaretz. October 13, 2006. Retrieved June 28, 2015.
  8. Gold, Mitch. "Israel Baseball League: IBL Players Entering MLB and International Leagues". Bleacher Report.
  9. ^ "israelbaseballleague.com: Stats". www.israelbaseballleague.com. Retrieved June 15, 2008.
  10. Kepner, Tyler (October 25, 2007). "Yanks' Manager Pick Not as Easy as 1, 2 or 3". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  11. "WasWatching.com: Jason Rees And Eladio Rodriguez". www.waswatching.com. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  12. "Gregg Raymundo Statistics – The Baseball Cube". www.thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
  13. ^ "israelbaseballleague.com: Press Releases". www.israelbaseballleague.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
  14. "Schnitzel Awards". www.israelbaseballleague.com. August 18, 2007. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2011.
  15. Last, Jeremy (August 14, 2007). "IBL: Holtzman leaves Pioneers with one week to play". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  16. Shaun Smith Profile Archived May 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, israelbaseballleague.com. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  17. Ami Baran Profile, israelbaseballleague.com. Retrieved 2007-07-09.
  18. "Israel baseball league Commissioner Kurtzer leads flurry of resignations". Archived from the original on June 3, 2008. Retrieved November 18, 2007.
  19. CNN http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/wires/11/18/2010.ap.bbi.israel.baseball.0236. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  20. Chass, Murray (November 18, 2007). "Rumors of Drug Use Have Damaged for Decades". The New York Times. Retrieved May 5, 2010.
  21. Berkman, Jacob. "Israel Baseball League starts in June". Jewish Light. St. Louis. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
  22. James Bailey (April 27, 2011). "Book Review: Pitching In The Promised Land". Baseball America. Retrieved April 7, 2015., a review of Aaron Pribble (2011). Pitching in the Promised Land: A Story of the First and Only Season in the Israel Baseball League. University of Nebraska Press.

Further reading

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