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{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Jews and Baseball:<br>An American Love Story | name = Jews and Baseball:<br/>An American Love Story
| image = | image = Jews and Baseball.jpg
| image size =
| alt = | alt =
| caption = | caption = DVD cover
| director = Peter Miller | director = Peter Miller
| producer = Will Hechter<br />Peter Miller | producer = Will Hechter<br />Peter Miller
| writer = ] | writer = ]
| screenplay =
| story =
| based on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} -->
| narrator = ] | narrator = ]
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />etc.
| music = Michael Roth | music = Michael Roth
| cinematography = Antonio Rossi<br />Stephen McCarthy<br />Allen Moore | cinematography = Antonio Rossi<br />Stephen McCarthy<br />Allen Moore
Line 18: Line 15:
| studio = Clear Lake Historical Productions | studio = Clear Lake Historical Productions
| distributor = Seventh Art Releasing | distributor = Seventh Art Releasing
| released = {{Film date|2010|11|5|limited}} | released = {{Film date|2010|7|25|]|2010|11|5|United States}}
| runtime = 91 minutes | runtime = 91 minutes
| country = United States | country = United States
Line 24: Line 21:
| budget = | budget =
| gross = | gross =
| preceded by =
| followed by =
}} }}
'''''Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story''''' is a 2010 American ] directed by filmmaker Ken Burns' associate Peter Miller, written by Pulitzer Prize winner ], and narrated by Academy Award winner ]. It is about the connection and history between American Jews and baseball.


'''''Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story''''' is a 2010 American ] narrated by ]-winner ], written by ]-winner ], and directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Peter Miller. It is about the connection and history between ] and ].<ref name="latimes1">{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-19-la-et-jews-baseball-20101119-story.html|author=Kenneth Turan |title= Movie review: 'Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story' |work=] |date=November 19, 2010 |access-date=December 12, 2010}}</ref><ref name="jewsandbaseball1">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewsandbaseball.com/film1.html |title=Film |publisher=Jewsandbaseball.com |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishbaseballnews.com/tag/kevin-youkilis/page/2/|author=Scott Barancik |title=New film explores our love affair with baseball|publisher=Jewish Baseball News |date= July 7, 2010|accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref>
Kenneth Turan of ''The Los Angeles Times'', wrote that the "warm and enthusiastic" film "not only lives up to its title ... but also delivers a bit extra as well." The documentary received the Best Editing Award at the Breckenridge Film Festival.

] of '']'' wrote that the "warm and enthusiastic" film "not only lives up to its title... but also delivers a bit extra as well".<ref name="latimes1"/> The documentary received the Best Editing Award at the Breckenridge Film Festival for Editor Amy Linton,<ref name="jewsandbaseball2">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewsandbaseball.com/news.html |title=Screenings |publisher=Jewsandbaseball.com |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref> the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival,<ref name="Facebook">{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/GreaterPhxJewishFilmFest?sk=wall&filter=1#!/GreaterPhxJewishFilmFest |title=Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival |publisher=Facebook |accessdate=March 31, 2011}}</ref> and the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Documentary at the 2011 Seattle Jewish Film Festival.<ref name="seattlejewishfilmfestival.org">{{cite news|url=http://www.seattlejewishfilmfestival.org/award |title=Seattle Jewish Film Festival &#124; Audience Choice Awards |access-date=September 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126125343/http://www.seattlejewishfilmfestival.org/award |archive-date=January 26, 2013 }}</ref>


==Synopsis== ==Synopsis==
The film was written by ]-winner ], and is narrated by actor ]. It was directed by Peter Miller, a documentary filmmaker known for his previous films, ''A Class Apart'', '']'' and ''The Internationale''.<ref name="latimes1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aclassapartmovie.com/ |title=A Class Apart &#124; A Mexican American Civil Rights Story |publisher=Aclassapartmovie.com |accessdate=September 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://willowpondfilms.com/internationale.html |title=The Internationale |publisher=Willowpondfilms.com |accessdate=September 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207042823/http://willowpondfilms.com/internationale.html |archive-date=December 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101118&content_id=16153034&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|author=Ben Platt |title=Film looks at Jewish experience in baseball |work=MLB.com |date=November 18, 2010 |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref>
The film was directed by filmmaker ]' longtime collaborator Peter Miller. It was written by ] winner ], and narrated by two-time ] winning actor ].


Dustin Hoffman does not normally narrate films, and initially turned down the project. But when he looked at the script, he changed his mind, saying: "Oh, this is about bigotry and overcoming ], about discrimination and these issues that I grew up with, that really matters to me". Dustin Hoffman does not normally narrate films, and initially turned down the project. However, when he looked at the script, he changed his mind, saying, "Oh, this is about bigotry and overcoming ], about discrimination and these issues that I grew up with, that really matters to me."<ref name="autogenerated1"/>


The film opens with a clip from the 1980 satirical ] '']'', in which a flight attendant is asked by a passenger if she has anything light to read. She responds by offering an ultra-thin leaflet, saying: "How about this leaflet, ''Famous Jewish Sports Legends''?" The film opens with a clip from the 1980 satirical comedy film '']'', in which a flight attendant is asked by a passenger if she has anything light to read. She responds by offering an ultra-thin leaflet, saying, "How about this leaflet, ''Famous Jewish Sports Legends''?".<ref name="latimes1"/>


The stereotype of Jews as non-athletic, as well as anti-semitism, are two issues that many Jewish baseball players faced and had to overcome. Noted anti-semite ] wrote on May 22, 1920: “If fans wish to know the trouble with American baseball they have it in three words—too much Jew.” A number of early Jewish ballplayers changed their names, so that it would not be apparent that they were Jewish. The stereotype of Jews as non-athletic, as well as anti-semitism, are two issues that many Jewish baseball players faced and had to overcome. Noted anti-semite ] wrote on May 22, 1920: "If fans wish to know the trouble with American baseball they have it in three words—too much Jew."<ref name="nyblueprint1">{{cite web|url=http://nyblueprint.com/articles/view.aspx?id=824 |title= Jews and Baseball Is A Film You Should Catch|author= Alan Zeitlin |publisher=The New York Blueprint |date= November 15, 2010|accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref> A number of early Jewish ballplayers changed their names, so that it would not be apparent that they were Jewish.<ref name="nyblueprint1"/>


The movie discusses how in fact there have been key Jewish ballplayers in every decade since baseball started in the 1860s, and how that helped Jews assimilate and counteract the stereotype of Jews as cerebral but non-athletic. The film is in part about Jewish immigration and assimilation into American society, bigotry against Jews, the passing on of Jewish traditions even during assimilation, heroism, and the breaking of Jewish stereotypes. The movie discusses the key Jewish ballplayers in each decade since baseball started in the 1860s, and how that helped Jews assimilate and counteract the stereotype of Jews as cerebral but non-athletic.<ref name="latimes1"/><ref name="jewsandbaseball1"/><ref name="villagevoice1">{{cite web|author=Nick Schager |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-03/film/the-title-says-it-all-in-sports-doc-jews-and-baseball/ |title=The Title Says It All in Sports Doc Jews and Baseball |work=] |date=November 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022120303/http://www.villagevoice.com/2010-11-03/film/the-title-says-it-all-in-sports-doc-jews-and-baseball/ |archive-date=October 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name="variety1">{{cite web|last=Anderson |first=John |url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117943960?refcatid=31 |title= Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story – Film Reviews|work=]|date=October 31, 2010 |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref> The film is partly about Jewish immigration and assimilation into American society; bigotry against Jews; the passing on of Jewish traditions, even during assimilation; heroism; and the breaking of Jewish stereotypes.<ref name="jewsandbaseball1"/><ref name="villagevoice1"/><ref name="variety1"/>


Director Miller said: Director Miller said:
⚫ <blockquote>
⚫ At its heart, this is a film about overcoming stereotypes. Bigotry against Jews has faded a great deal...
<p>
⚫ The story of a once-marginalized people finding their way into the American mainstream offers lessons for a country that continues to grapple with its ideal as a place where talent should overcome prejudice, where we can retain our differences while still being American, where anyone who can hit or pitch or run can be a part of the magic and drama of our national game.</blockquote>


⚫ {{blockquote|
⚫ The documentary contains rare archival footage and photos, and music ranging from ] to ] to ].
⚫ At its heart, this is a film about overcoming stereotypes. Bigotry against Jews has faded a great deal ...
⚫ The story of a once-marginalized people finding their way into the American mainstream offers lessons for a country that continues to grapple with its ideal as a place where talent should overcome prejudice, where we can retain our differences while still being American, where anyone who can hit or pitch or run can be a part of the magic and drama of our national game.<ref name="boston1">", Maureen Mullen, '']'', December 9, 2010, accessed December 11, 2010</ref>}}

⚫ The documentary contains rare archival footage and photos, and music ranging from ] to ] to ].<ref name="jewsandbaseball1"/>


===Ballplayers, and interviewees=== ===Ballplayers, and interviewees===
The documentary highlights ] (rookie of the year in 1950, and MVP in 1953), who is frank about how he dealt with anti-Semitism: "There's a time that you let it be known that enough is enough.... You flatten ." It also discusses ] ("he spoke seven languages, and couldn't hit in any of them"), ] (his $20-per-week for the 1866 Philadelphia Athletics made him the first professional player; he led the American League in home runs three times), pitcher ] (the "Yiddish Curver"), ], ] ("The Rabbi of Swat"), and ]. Those interviewed also include ], ], ], and ]. Also featured in the film are ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. The documentary highlights ] (Rookie of the Year in 1950, and ] in 1953), who is frank about how he dealt with anti-Semitism: "There's a time that you let it be known that enough is enough. ... You flatten ."<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Dick Friedman |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1179686/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921062258/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1179686/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 21, 2011 |title=Faith In The Game; A new film illuminates the Jewish contribution to the national pastime |magazine=]|date=November 25, 2002 |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref> It also discusses ] ("he spoke seven languages, and couldn't hit in any of them"), ] (led the ] in ]s three times), ] ] (the "] Curver"), ], ] ("The Rabbi of Swat") and ].<ref name="latimes1"/><ref name="autogenerated1"/> Others interviewed include ], ], ] and ].<ref name="latimes1"/><ref name="jewsandbaseball1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jewsandbaseball.com/players.html |title=Our Cast |publisher=Jewsandbaseball.com |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref> Also featured in the film are ], ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://njjewishnews.com/kaplanskorner/2010/08/26/guest-review-jews-and-baseball-an-american-love-story/ |author=Sam Bernstein|title=Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story » Kaplan's Korner on Jews and Sports |publisher=] |date=August 26, 2010 |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref>


{{multiple image
]]]
| align = right
⚫ The documentary focuses especially on two players. One is ], a two-time American League MVP, five-time All Star, and ]. Greenberg said the anti-Semitic comments yelled at him by fans made him more motivated. He sat out ] during a tight ] on the advice of his mother. The film notes a column in the '']'', in which ] wrote in response to Greenberg's absence from the lineup: “We shall miss him on the infield, and shall miss him at the bat, but he’s true to his religion and we honor him for that.”
| direction = horizontal
| caption_align = center
| total_width = 350
| image1 = Hank Greenberg 1940.jpg
| image2 = Sandy Koufax.jpg
| footer = Hall of Famers ] of the Tigers ''(left)'' and ] of the Dodgers ''(right)''
}}


⚫ The documentary especially focuses on two players. One is ], a two-time ] MVP, five-time ], and ]. Anti-Semitic barbs directed at him from the stands served to motivate him, he said.<ref name="nyblueprint1"/> He sat out ] during a tight ] on the advice of his mother.<ref name="latimes1"/><ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="variety1"/> The film notes a column in the '']'', in which ] wrote, in response to Greenberg's absence from the lineup, "We shall miss him on the infield, and shall miss him at the bat, but he's true to his religion and we honor him for that."<ref name="nyblueprint1"/>
⚫ The other is ], Hall of Fame pitcher, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 7-time All Star who sat out a ] game to observe Yom Kippur. When Koufax went to synagogue instead of pitching the first game of the ], ] replaced him and was bombed; when Dodgers Manager ] arrived at the mound to take him out of the game, Drysdale quipped: "Right now I bet you wish I was Jewish too." Koufax agreed to a rare filmed interview for the documentary.


⚫ The other is ], Hall of Fame pitcher, three-time ] winner, and 7-time All Star, who sat out Game 1 of the ] to observe Yom Kippur, out of respect of his heritage. Koufax had never pitched on any of the ] in his career, and chose not to during Game 1. In his place, ] started and was hit hard; when ] ] ] arrived at the mound to take him out of the game, Drysdale quipped, "Right now I bet you wish I was Jewish too."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/11/jews-and-baseball-dennis-leary-kevin-youkilis-ron-howard-sandy-koufax.html |author= Patrick Goldstein and James Rainey |title='Jews and Baseball': Ron Howard's a-ha moment with Sandy Koufax |work=] |date=November 17, 2010 |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref> Koufax agreed to a rare filmed interview for the documentary.<ref name="latimes1"/><ref name="autogenerated1"/><ref name="variety1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalpost.com/arts/Jews+Baseball+American+Love+Story+Shtick+game+plan/3605396/story.html|author= Hertz, Barry|title=Jews and Baseball – An American Love Story: Shtick to the game plan |work=] |date=September 30, 2010 |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref>
More-current ballplayers are also discussed, including All Stars ], ], and ]. Youkilis notes in the film: <blockquote>It’s something that I probably won’t realize until my career is over, how many people are really rooting for me and cheering for me. And it’s not just because I went 3-for-4, or had a great game. It’s just the fact that I represent a lot of Jewish people and a lot of the Jewish heritage and the struggles that a lot of our people have had.</blockquote> As of 2010, there had been 166 Jewish major leaguers, the newest being ] with the New York Mets and ] with the Minnesota Twins.

More recent ballplayers are also discussed, including All Stars ], ] and ].<ref name="latimes1"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Edmon J. Rodman|url=http://www.jpost.com/ArtsAndCulture/Entertainment/Article.aspx?id=194380 |title=Jews and baseball, a love story |publisher=] |date=November 7, 2010 |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Rodman |first=Edmon J. |url=http://jta.org/news/article/2010/11/02/2741546/getting-over-the-post-world-series-blues-jews-and-baseball-a-love-story |title=Getting over the post-World Series blues—Jews and baseball, a love story |agency=] |date=November 2, 2010 |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref> Youkilis notes in the film:

<blockquote>It's something that I probably won't realize until my career is over, how many people are really rooting for me and cheering for me. And it's not just because I went 3-for-4, or had a great game. It's just the fact that I represent a lot of Jewish people and a lot of the Jewish heritage and the struggles that a lot of our people have had.<ref name="boston1"/></blockquote> As of 2010, there had been 166 Jewish major leaguers, the newest being ] with the ] and ] with the ].<ref name="boston1"/>


==Release== ==Release==
Among the film's notable festival appearances and special screenings in 2010 were July 15 & 16 at the ], July 25 at the ], July 25 at the ], July 31 & August 1 & 8 at the ], August 10-15 at the ], October 3 at the ], and October 14 & 16 at the ]. Among the film's notable festival appearances and special screenings in 2010 were July 15 and 16 at the ], July 25 at the ], July 25 at the ], July 31, and August 1 and 8 at the ], August 10–15 at the ], October 3 at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and October 14 and 16 at the ].<ref name="jewsandbaseball2"/> It was the opening-night film at the ] February 8, 2011, playing for an audience of more than 3,000 at ]. It was theatrically released in New York, Los Angeles and a number of other cities. The ] was released by ] April 19, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newvideo.com/docurama/jews-and-baseball/ |title=Jews and Baseball – Docurama – New Video Group |publisher=Newvideo.com |date=March 22, 2011 |accessdate=March 31, 2011}}</ref>


==Reception== ==Reception==

===Critical response=== ===Critical response===
] of '']'', describing it as warm and enthusiastic, wrote that the documentary: "not only lives up to its title ... but also delivers a bit extra as well." ] writes in '']'' that "With terrific narration by Dustin Hoffman, ''Jews and Baseball'' makes effective use of archival footage and interviews, the most spectacular of which is a lengthy sequence featuring the usually reclusive Koufax". Andrew Schenker of '']'' described it as: "a breezy compendium of fun facts and colorful figures ... likely to prove irresistible to baseball fans, Hebraic or otherwise." ] of '']'', describing it as "warm and enthusiastic", wrote that the documentary "not only lives up to its title ... but also delivers a bit extra as well".<ref name="latimes1"/>
John Anderson wrote in '']'', "With terrific narration by Dustin Hoffman, ''Jews and Baseball'' makes effective use of archival footage and interviews, the most spectacular of which is a lengthy sequence featuring the usually reclusive Koufax."<ref name="variety1" />
Andrew Schenker of '']'' described it as "a breezy compendium of fun facts and colorful figures... likely to prove irresistible to baseball fans, Hebraic or otherwise".<ref>{{cite web|last=Schenker |first=Andrew |url=http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/537533/jews-and-baseball-an-american-love-story |title=Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story |work=] New York |date=November 2, 2010 |accessdate=December 12, 2010}}</ref>

'']'' described it as "stirring, revelatory and affectionate. Jews and Baseball knocks it out of the park."

] wrote in '']'' that it is "an engaging, briskly paced film".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2011/03/jews_and_baseball_looks_at_jewish-american_experience_from_the_diamond.html |title='Jews and Baseball' looks at Jewish-American experience from the diamond |publisher=cleveland.com |accessdate=September 9, 2013}}</ref>


===Awards=== ===Awards===
The film received the Best Editing Award at the Breckenridge Film Festival on June 12, 2010. The film received the Best Editing Award at the Breckenridge Film Festival, recognizing the work of film editor Amy Linton,<ref name="jewsandbaseball2"/> the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival,<ref name="Facebook"/> and the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Documentary at the 2011 Seattle Jewish Film Festival.<ref name="seattlejewishfilmfestival.org"/>


==See also== ==See also==
*]
*'']'', a documentary film
*] *]
*'']'' *'']''
*] *]

⚫ ==Further reading==
===Books===
*'''', Burton Alan Boxerman, Benita W. Boxerman, McFarland, 2010, ISBN 0786428287
*'''', Howard Megdal, Collins, 2009, ISBN 0061558435
*'''', Peter S. Horvitz, Joachim Horvitz, Perseus Distribution Services, 2007, ISBN 1561718211
*, Burton Alan Boxerman, Benita W. Boxerman, McFarland, 2006, ISBN 0786428287
*'''', Peter S. Horvitz, Joachim Horvitz, SP Books, 2001, ISBN 1561719730
*'''', Erwin Lynn, Shapolsky Publishers, 1986, ISBN 0933503172
*'''', Harold Uriel Ribalow, Meir Z. Ribalow, Hippocrene Books, 1984, ISBN 0882548980


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist|2}}

⚫ ==Further reading==
* {{cite book |title=Jewish Baseball Stars |author1=Ribalow, Harold Uriel |author2=Ribalow, Meir Z. |publisher=Hippocrene Books |year=1984 |isbn=0-88254-898-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/jewishbaseballst00riba_0/mode/2up}}
* {{cite book |title=The Jewish Baseball Hall of Fame: a Who's Who of Baseball Stars |author=Lynn, Erwin |publisher=Shapolsky Publishers |year= 1986 |isbn=0-933503-17-2 |url=https://archive.org/details/jewishbaseballha0000lynn}}
* {{cite book |title=The Big Book of Jewish Baseball: An Illustrated Encyclopedia & Anecdotal History |author1=Horvitz, Peter S. |author2=Horvitz, Joachim |year=2001 |isbn=1-56171-973-0 |publisher=SP Books |url=https://archive.org/details/bigbookofjewishb0000horv}}
* {{cite book |title=The Baseball Talmud: The Definitive Position-by-Position Ranking of Baseball's Chosen Players |author= Megdal, Howard |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-06-155843-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/baseballtalmudde0000megd}}
* {{cite book |title=American Jews and America's Game: Voices of a Growing Legacy in Baseball |author=Ruttman, Larry |year=2013 |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |isbn=978-0803-2647-55 |url=https://archive.org/details/americanjewsamer0000rutt/mode/2up}}


==External links== ==External links==
* * {{Official website|http://www.jewsandbaseball.com/}}
⚫ * {{IMDb title|1583743|Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story}}
⚫ *
*{{Allmovie title|id=522109|title=Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story}} * {{Metacritic film|title=Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story}}
*{{IMDb title|id=1583743|title=Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story}} * {{Rotten-tomatoes|jews_and_baseball_an_american_love_story|Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story}}
*
*{{Metacritic film|id= jews-and-baseball-an-american-love-story|title=Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story}}
⚫ *
*{{rotten-tomatoes|id=jews_and_baseball_an_american_love_story|title=Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story}}
⚫ *{{Tcmdb title|id=826532|title=Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story}}


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Latest revision as of 00:17, 22 December 2024

2010 American film
Jews and Baseball:
An American Love Story
DVD cover
Directed byPeter Miller
Written byIra Berkow
Produced byWill Hechter
Peter Miller
Narrated byDustin Hoffman
CinematographyAntonio Rossi
Stephen McCarthy
Allen Moore
Edited byAmy Linton
Music byMichael Roth
Production
company		Clear Lake Historical Productions
Distributed bySeventh Art Releasing
Release dates
  • July 25, 2010 (2010-07-25) (Stony Brook)
  • November 5, 2010 (2010-11-05) (United States)
Running time91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story is a 2010 American documentary film narrated by Academy Award-winner Dustin Hoffman, written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Ira Berkow, and directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Peter Miller. It is about the connection and history between American Jews and baseball.

Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times wrote that the "warm and enthusiastic" film "not only lives up to its title... but also delivers a bit extra as well". The documentary received the Best Editing Award at the Breckenridge Film Festival for Editor Amy Linton, the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival, and the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Documentary at the 2011 Seattle Jewish Film Festival.

Synopsis

The film was written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Ira Berkow, and is narrated by actor Dustin Hoffman. It was directed by Peter Miller, a documentary filmmaker known for his previous films, A Class Apart, Sacco and Vanzetti and The Internationale.

Dustin Hoffman does not normally narrate films, and initially turned down the project. However, when he looked at the script, he changed his mind, saying, "Oh, this is about bigotry and overcoming anti-Semitism, about discrimination and these issues that I grew up with, that really matters to me."

The film opens with a clip from the 1980 satirical comedy film Airplane!, in which a flight attendant is asked by a passenger if she has anything light to read. She responds by offering an ultra-thin leaflet, saying, "How about this leaflet, Famous Jewish Sports Legends?".

The stereotype of Jews as non-athletic, as well as anti-semitism, are two issues that many Jewish baseball players faced and had to overcome. Noted anti-semite Henry Ford wrote on May 22, 1920: "If fans wish to know the trouble with American baseball they have it in three words—too much Jew." A number of early Jewish ballplayers changed their names, so that it would not be apparent that they were Jewish.

The movie discusses the key Jewish ballplayers in each decade since baseball started in the 1860s, and how that helped Jews assimilate and counteract the stereotype of Jews as cerebral but non-athletic. The film is partly about Jewish immigration and assimilation into American society; bigotry against Jews; the passing on of Jewish traditions, even during assimilation; heroism; and the breaking of Jewish stereotypes.

Director Miller said:

At its heart, this is a film about overcoming stereotypes. Bigotry against Jews has faded a great deal ...

The story of a once-marginalized people finding their way into the American mainstream offers lessons for a country that continues to grapple with its ideal as a place where talent should overcome prejudice, where we can retain our differences while still being American, where anyone who can hit or pitch or run can be a part of the magic and drama of our national game.

The documentary contains rare archival footage and photos, and music ranging from Benny Goodman to Yo-Yo Ma to Rush.

Ballplayers, and interviewees

The documentary highlights Al Rosen (Rookie of the Year in 1950, and MVP in 1953), who is frank about how he dealt with anti-Semitism: "There's a time that you let it be known that enough is enough. ... You flatten ." It also discusses Moe Berg ("he spoke seven languages, and couldn't hit in any of them"), Lipman Pike (led the National Association in home runs three times), pitcher Barney Pelty (the "Yiddish Curver"), "Subway Sam" Nahem, Moe Solomon ("The Rabbi of Swat") and Shawn Green. Others interviewed include Norm Sherry, Ron Blomberg, Elliott Maddox and Bob Feller. Also featured in the film are Maury Allen, Larry King, Ron Howard and Yogi Berra.

Hall of Famers Hank Greenberg of the Tigers (left) and Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers (right)

The documentary especially focuses on two players. One is Hank Greenberg, a two-time American League MVP, five-time All Star, and Hall of Famer. Anti-Semitic barbs directed at him from the stands served to motivate him, he said. He sat out Yom Kippur during a tight pennant race on the advice of his mother. The film notes a column in the Detroit Free Press, in which Edgar Guest wrote, in response to Greenberg's absence from the lineup, "We shall miss him on the infield, and shall miss him at the bat, but he's true to his religion and we honor him for that."

The other is Sandy Koufax, Hall of Fame pitcher, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 7-time All Star, who sat out Game 1 of the 1965 World Series to observe Yom Kippur, out of respect of his heritage. Koufax had never pitched on any of the High Holy Days in his career, and chose not to during Game 1. In his place, Don Drysdale started and was hit hard; when Dodgers manager Walter Alston arrived at the mound to take him out of the game, Drysdale quipped, "Right now I bet you wish I was Jewish too." Koufax agreed to a rare filmed interview for the documentary.

More recent ballplayers are also discussed, including All Stars Kevin Youkilis, Ian Kinsler and Ryan Braun. Youkilis notes in the film:

It's something that I probably won't realize until my career is over, how many people are really rooting for me and cheering for me. And it's not just because I went 3-for-4, or had a great game. It's just the fact that I represent a lot of Jewish people and a lot of the Jewish heritage and the struggles that a lot of our people have had.

As of 2010, there had been 166 Jewish major leaguers, the newest being Ike Davis with the New York Mets and Danny Valencia with the Minnesota Twins.

Release

Among the film's notable festival appearances and special screenings in 2010 were July 15 and 16 at the Jerusalem Film Festival, July 25 at the Stony Brook Film Festival, July 25 at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, July 31, and August 1 and 8 at the San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, August 10–15 at the Rhode Island International Film Festival, October 3 at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and October 14 and 16 at the Jacksonville Film Festival. It was the opening-night film at the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival February 8, 2011, playing for an audience of more than 3,000 at Atlanta's Fox Theatre. It was theatrically released in New York, Los Angeles and a number of other cities. The DVD was released by New Video April 19, 2011.

Reception

Critical response

Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times, describing it as "warm and enthusiastic", wrote that the documentary "not only lives up to its title ... but also delivers a bit extra as well".

John Anderson wrote in Variety, "With terrific narration by Dustin Hoffman, Jews and Baseball makes effective use of archival footage and interviews, the most spectacular of which is a lengthy sequence featuring the usually reclusive Koufax."

Andrew Schenker of Time Out New York described it as "a breezy compendium of fun facts and colorful figures... likely to prove irresistible to baseball fans, Hebraic or otherwise".

Newsday described it as "stirring, revelatory and affectionate. Jews and Baseball knocks it out of the park."

Mark Dawidziak wrote in The Plain Dealer that it is "an engaging, briskly paced film".

Awards

The film received the Best Editing Award at the Breckenridge Film Festival, recognizing the work of film editor Amy Linton, the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival, and the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Documentary at the 2011 Seattle Jewish Film Festival.

See also

References

  1. ^ Kenneth Turan (November 19, 2010). "Movie review: 'Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  2. ^ "Film". Jewsandbaseball.com. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  3. Scott Barancik (July 7, 2010). "New film explores our love affair with baseball". Jewish Baseball News. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  4. ^ "Screenings". Jewsandbaseball.com. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  5. ^ "Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival". Facebook. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  6. ^ "Seattle Jewish Film Festival | Audience Choice Awards". Archived from the original on January 26, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  7. "A Class Apart | A Mexican American Civil Rights Story". Aclassapartmovie.com. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  8. "The Internationale". Willowpondfilms.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  9. ^ Ben Platt (November 18, 2010). "Film looks at Jewish experience in baseball". MLB.com. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  10. ^ Alan Zeitlin (November 15, 2010). "Jews and Baseball Is A Film You Should Catch". The New York Blueprint. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  11. ^ Nick Schager (November 3, 2010). "The Title Says It All in Sports Doc Jews and Baseball". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.
  12. ^ Anderson, John (October 31, 2010). "Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story – Film Reviews". Variety. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  13. ^ "Baseball as a cultural connection; Documentary explores special ties for Jews", Maureen Mullen, The Boston Globe, December 9, 2010, accessed December 11, 2010
  14. Dick Friedman (November 25, 2002). "Faith In The Game; A new film illuminates the Jewish contribution to the national pastime". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  15. "Our Cast". Jewsandbaseball.com. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  16. Sam Bernstein (August 26, 2010). "Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story » Kaplan's Korner on Jews and Sports". New Jersey Jewish News. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  17. Patrick Goldstein and James Rainey (November 17, 2010). "'Jews and Baseball': Ron Howard's a-ha moment with Sandy Koufax". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  18. Hertz, Barry (September 30, 2010). "Jews and Baseball – An American Love Story: Shtick to the game plan". National Post. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  19. Edmon J. Rodman (November 7, 2010). "Jews and baseball, a love story". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  20. Rodman, Edmon J. (November 2, 2010). "Getting over the post-World Series blues—Jews and baseball, a love story". JTA. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  21. "Jews and Baseball – Docurama – New Video Group". Newvideo.com. March 22, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2011.
  22. Schenker, Andrew (November 2, 2010). "Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story". Time Out New York New York. Retrieved December 12, 2010.
  23. "'Jews and Baseball' looks at Jewish-American experience from the diamond". cleveland.com. Retrieved September 9, 2013.

Further reading

External links

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