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Revision as of 20:56, 21 May 2007 by Zoicon5 (talk | contribs) (Disambiguate John McGraw to John McGraw (baseball) using popups)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Moses "Moe" Hirsch Solomon (December 8, 1900, on the Lower East Side in Manhattan - June 25, 1966) was an American baseball player who briefly played for the New York Giants in 1923.
He was nicknamed the "Rabbi of Swat".
Early life
The son of a junk dealer, who grew up in Columbus, Ohio, Moe also went by the nickname "Hickory."
Even though the family was observant, he pursued baseball.
Minor leagues
While in the minors he played first base and outfield, while batting lefty,
Solomon was a minor league legend. In 1921 he was picked up by Vancouver in the Pacific Coast International League. He hit .313 his first year, matching his lifetime minor league average.
He hit 49 home runs in the Class C Southwestern Conference, in only 108 games. Unfortunately, he also made 31 errors (at first base). Only Babe Ruth had more home runs in a single season.
McGraw bought out his contract from the Hutchinson, Kansas franchise in September 1923. By that time he had developed a reputation for himself. On the day that he left the club, he was batting .421 for the season, and was leading the league in runs, hits, and doubles, as well as breaking the previous minor league home run record established in 1895.
The press gave him the nickname “The Rabbi of Swat,” establishing him as “the Jewish Babe Ruth.”
But he had another reputation as well. As was common for players of ethnic origin, other than Irish or German ancestry, Solomon was forced to earn the respect of the other players. Word soon went around to “lay off the big Jew.”
Major leagues
In 1923, The New York Giants were desperate for a slugger to offset crosstown Yankee star Babe Ruth, known as "The Sultan of Swat." They called up Solomon from the minors, and publicized him as "The Rabbi of Swat." But manager John McGraw didn't dare play him in the field. In his brief big-league stint, Solomon's fielding average was .833. His .375 batting average (three for eight) in his two big-league games included one double and one RBI. His career slugging average is thus a robust .500. His entire major league career consists of two games for the Giants in 1923.
External links
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