Benefit features the unveiling of new Jewish Baseball Player Lithograph by Ron Lewis
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History
15 West 16th St. between Fifth & Sixth Aves.
Wednesday, February 27, $50-$150, 6:00 – 9:00 pm
www.ajhs.org
Yeah yeah yeah, everyone knows the jokes about the book on Jewish athletes being a slim volume, yadda yadda yadda. Well, you might be surprised that it’s actually bigger than you think, especially when it comes to baseball. On February 27, the American Jewish Historical Society is celebrating Jewish involvement in a different kind of diamond district with “A Night of Jewish Baseball,” a fundraiser benefiting more than three dozen charities, including the Jewish United Fund, the Wounded Warrior Project, B’Nai B’rith, the Anti-Defamation League, the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, United Israel Appeal, and many organizations founded by baseball teams and players. There will be a reception with stadium-style food, a display of Jewish baseball memorabilia, a silent auction, a collection of uniforms autographed by Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg, and Team Israel, a panel discussion with Ira Berkow, Ron Blomberg, Jane Leavy, Franklin Foer, Art Shamsky, and John Thorn, and the debut of the limited edition “originally autographed” Jewish Baseball Player Lithograph by Ron Lewis, featuring the likenesses and signatures of a roster of former and current Hebrew Hammers: Ruben Amaro Jr., Brad Ausmus, Ross Baumgarten, Blomberg, Ryan Braun, Craig Breslow, Ike Davis, Mike Epstein, Scott Feldman, Sam Fuld, John Grabow, Shawn Green, Adam Greenberg, Joe Horlen, Ian Kinsler, Koufax, Jason Marquis, Norm Miller, Al Rosen, Richie Scheinblum, Shamsky, Norm Sherry, Steve Stone, Steve Yeager, and Kevin Youkilis. The crowd in the background of the two-feet-by-three-feet artwork includes national pastime enthusiasts and executives Billy Crystal, Theo Epstein, Derrick Hall, Larry King, Marvin Miller, Rob Reiner, Jerry Reinsdorf, Bud Selig, Charley Steiner, and Michael Weiner.