Out of Left Field: Jews and Black Baseball
"A major scholarly achievement... Alpert renders the material interesting, significant, and accessible... [A] compelling read."--American Jewish History"In retrieving the story of the Jewish role in black baseball, Rabbi Alpert fills in an illustrative and symbolic gap in history, offering an insight into the relations between blacks and Jews that strengthened during the Civil Rights era and subsequently became frayed."--The Jewish Week"Albert both tells their individual stories and fills in the larger canvas."--Michael Carasik"...an intriguing strand of inter-ethnic conflict and cooperation:the relationship between African and Jewish Americans."--TLS"Interesting, well-written, and thoroughly researched... Alpert's book succeeds as a vivid account of individuals navigating the landscape of ethnicity, race, and ideology in the first half of the twentieth century in America." --The Journal of Religion"Less told is the story of black baseball's entrepreneurs. Rebecca T. Alpert'sOut of Left Fieldis a welcomed addition...[she] makes a compelling case for the impact of these Jewish figures in the black baseball world and, in so doing, illuminates the imaginings of Jewish identity through baseball and the workings of race in America's game."--The Journal of American History"Alpert has made great use of archival material, interviews, and secondary sources to explain the relationship between Jews and African Americans in baseball...Alpert, to her credit, has emphasized that Jews have played a major role in helping to bring about the integration of major league baseball."--Black Ball"Rebecca Alpert has mined a remarkable and little known world of Jews, blacks, and baseball--and American culture, in a dramatic period of the 20th century--and turned it all into gold for the reader."--Ira Berkow, winner of the Pulitzer Prize"Out of Left Fieldis a fascinating journey into the history of baseball--and America. Rebecca Alpert has dug deep to tell a story that will surprise and impress even the most knowledgeable baseball reader."--Jonathan Eig, author ofOpening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season"Like me, lots of authors have written about the alluring and tragic world of black baseball. Others have explored the fascinating universe of Jewish baseball. Rebecca Alpert shines an overdue spotlight on the intersection between those worlds, which turns out to be an important story in the history of baseball and the history of America."--Larry Tye, author ofSatchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend"Out of Left Fieldprovides a fresh perspective on the complex history of interactions between blacks and Jews in the United States.  Situating baseball as a crucible for the forging of American identity, Alpert examines the role of Jews--including a community of black Jews--in the business of black baseball. The result is a challenging and sensitive study of race, religion, recreation, and American identity."--Judith Weisenfeld, author ofHollywood Be Thy Name: African American Religion in American Film, 1929-1949"Alpert skillfully reconstructs the surprising story of Jewish involvement in black baseball...Clearly written and thoroughly documented, Alpert recovers this valuable storyabout baseball, race, and religion in America's midtwentieth century. Sports historians and baseball aficionados will appreciate this book, which would also work well in undergraduate and graduate classes."--Religious Studies Review