Jewish players have played in Major League Baseball since the league came into existence in the late 19th century, and have a long and storied history within the game. There have been 190 players who identified as Jewish during their Major League career, including players who converted during or before their careers, and players who have or had at least one Jewish parent, and identified as Jewish by virtue of their parentage.
In the early years, Jewish baseball players faced constant antisemitic heckles from opponents and fans, with many hiding their heritage to avoid discrimination in the league. Despite this, a number of Jewish players overcame such abuse and went on to become stars. Two such players, Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax, were both elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and are widely considered to be amongst the most important and iconic players in baseball and American history. The sport played a large part in the assimilation of American Jews into American society at a time of rampant antisemitism, and remains an important part of Jewish American culture today.
The criteria for this list have been taken from the Jewish Baseball Museum, a virtual museum dedicated to the preservation and recording of Jewish history and the involvement of Jews in baseball. The list includes players who identified as Jewish during their careers. Where the player has one parent who is Jewish and also identifies as Jewish or has converted before or during their careers, it is noted as such. Players who converted after their careers had ended or did not identify as Jewish despite having Jewish parentage are not listed.
History of Jews in Major League Baseball
Jewish players have played in Major League Baseball since the league came into existence, with Lip Pike being the first. With the surge of Jewish immigrants from Europe to the United States at the turn of the 20th century, baseball, then the most popular sport in the country and referred to as the "National Pastime", became a way for children of Jewish immigrants to assimilate into American life. Sportswriter Jon Wertheim described baseball as being "interwoven with the American Jewish experience". Baseball historian John Thorn described it as an "agent of integration".
For many years, Jewish players who made it to the Major Leagues often changed their names and hid their identities in order to avoid antisemitism, at the time rampant in the country and the league. Industrialist Henry Ford, during the Black Sox Scandal and the alleged involvement of Jewish crime boss Arnold Rothstein in the fixing of the 1919 World Series, famously wrote about the gambling scene that was widespread in the sport at the time: "If fans wish to know the trouble with American baseball they have it in three words—too much Jew."
It was not until Hank Greenberg, the son of Orthodox Romanian-Jewish immigrants, broke into the Majors in 1930 with the Detroit Tigers that Jewish players stopped hiding their identities. Greenberg played in Detroit, which was home to Father Coughlin, a Catholic priest who used his radio program to broadcast antisemitic commentary, and Henry Ford who spread antisemitism through his newspaper The Dearborn Independent. He faced verbal abuse from opposing benches and fans. However, Greenberg never hid his Jewish identity, famously sitting out a game during a tight pennant race in 1934 due to it falling on Yom Kippur. He became the first Jewish player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
After Greenberg, many Jewish players went on to become stars in the Jewish American communities. The most famous of those was Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers, widely considered to be one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, who later became the second Jewish player elected to the Hall of Fame. Like Greenberg, Koufax sat out a game during the High Holy Days, famously refusing to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur. Rabbi Rebecca Alpert stated that Koufax, who faced antisemitism as well, helped break stereotypes of Jewish men who were seen as being weak and bookish. His decision to sit out a World Series game became one of the most iconic moments for American Jews, making him "an important role model, and a real hero."
Since Greenberg and Koufax, Thorn noted that Jewish baseball fans have become known for paying close attention to Jewish baseball players, both upcoming stars and prospects, and that there are sets of Major League Baseball cards dedicated to every Jewish player who has played in the Major Leagues, indicating the continuing importance of the game in the Jewish community.
In 2010, a documentary film called Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story was released which discussed the relationship between baseball and American Jews in detail. While Greenberg and Koufax were the main subjects of the film, the movie also discussed how baseball was used to fight against stereotypes of Jews as non-athletic and bookish. It also talked about Jewish immigration and assimilation into American society as well as Jewish stars and notable players besides the two Hall of Famers, such as Al Rosen, Moe Berg, Kevin Youkilis, and Ryan Braun.
List of players A–F + Name Position Major League team(s) Years active Notes Outfielder 1949–1956Pitcher1969–1975Horvitz, pp. 16–17.Outfielder1991–1998Outfielder1936–1941, 1946Catcher1993–2010Centerfielder2017–presentShortstopWashington Senators1919Horvitz, p. 23.PitcherBoston Red Sox1995Pitcher1978–1982Horvitz, pp. 24–25.Pitcher1988–1997Third basemanPhiladelphia Phillies1923Horvitz, p. 29Catcher1923–1939Right fielderPhiladelphia Athletics1871Horvitz, p. 32.Pitcher2022-presentCatcherWashington Senators1918Horvitz, pp. 32–33.PitcherOakland Athletics2018Pitcher2016–2023Chicago Cubs1942, 1945–1946Horvitz, pp. 33–35.1969, 1971–1976, 1978Second baseman1916, 1921–1926Third basemanPhiladelphia Athletics1915Horvitz, p. 38.OutfielderMilwaukee Brewers2007–2020Third baseman2016–presentRelief pitcher2005–2006, 2008–2017ShortstopDetroit Tigers1931Horvitz, p. 41.PitcherHouston Colt .45s1963Horvitz, p. 42.CatcherHouston Astros2000CatcherCincinnati Reds1937Horvitz, pp. 42–43.Relief pitcherKansas City Royals2001Outfielder1931–1933Horvitz, pp. 44–45.Second basemanNew York Giants 1926, 1928–1929PitcherChicago Cubs1955Horvitz, pp. 47–49.PitcherWashington Senators1934, 1936–1937Horvitz, pp. 49–50.Pitcher1940–1943Horvitz, p. 50.Third basemanNew York Highlanders1905Horvitz, pp. 50–51.PitcherChicago White Sox1918Horvitz, p. 51.PitcherCleveland Blues1901Horvitz, pp. 51–52.CatcherNew York Giants 1933–1942CatcherSt. Louis Browns1928PitcherKansas City Athletics 1958, 1960First baseman2010–2016San Diego Padres2015Pitcher 2021–presentStarting pitcher1935–1942Horvitz, pp. 54–55.First baseman1966–1974OutfielderSt. Louis Cardinals 1921Horvitz, p. 57.Second basemanDetroit Tigers 1951–1952Horvitz, pp. 57–58.Utility playerPhiladelphia Phillies1938–1939Horvitz, p. 59.PitcherNew York Giants 1941–1946Horvitz, pp. 59–61.Pitcher2005–2017PitcherNew York Giants1899Horvitz, p. 62.PitcherMiami Marlins 2022PitcherMilwaukee Brewers2003Pitcher1924, 1926Horvitz, pp. 62–63.OutfielderSt. Louis Cardinals1997ShortstopDetroit Tigers1941–1942Horvitz, pp. 64–65.First basemanOakland Athletics2013–2014Starting pitcher2017–presentOutfielder2007, 2009–2015
G–P + Name Position Major League team(s) Years active Notes Outfielder1933–1936, 1939Horvitz, pp. 66–67.Second baseman Oakland Athletics2023–presentOutfielderChicago White Sox1985Catcher1948, 1950–1954, 1956–1962PitcherCincinnati Reds 1998, 2000PitcherChicago White Sox2017Cleveland Indians1928–1931Horvitz, p. 71.PitcherDetroit Tigers1932Horvitz, pp. 71–72.First baseman1878, 1882Horvitz, pp. 72–73.1941–1943, 1946–1955Horvitz, pp. 74–76.Pinch hitterSt. Louis Cardinals1952Horvitz, pp. 76–77.Relief pitcher2003–2011 Right fielder1993–2007 Outfielder2005, 20121930, 1933–1941, 1945–1947Utility playerPhiladelphia Phillies2022–2023CatcherOakland Athletics 1993–1995Horvitz, p. 84.Third basemanHouston Colt .45s1964Horvitz, pp. 85–86.Pitcher2006–2008Starting pitcher1965–1979First baseman 2023–presentOutfielderSan Francisco Giants2008PitcherFlorida Marlins1996Catcher1972–1977Outfielder2010, 2012, 2014, 2016PitcherSt. Louis Cardinals2020Pitcher1902–1906Outfielder2000–2005, 2005–2010PitcherNew York Yankees1946Horvitz, pp. 94–96.Utility player 2016–2018Second baseman2006–2019Pitcher1963–1964Horvitz, p. 96.Pitcher2001–2007Starting pitcherBrooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers1955–1966OutfielderAtlanta Braves1995Horvitz, p. 99.Relief pitcherCincinnati Reds2024Starting pitcherBaltimore Orioles2020–presentPitcher1957–1967Horvitz, pp. 101–102.Catcher2011–2021Relief pitcherPhiladelphia Phillies2024–presentShortstopSt. Louis Browns1930–1933Relief pitcher1996–2005Catcher1992–2001Catcher1994–2007First basemanPhiladelphia Athletics1951, 1954Pitcher1994–1995, 1997–2000, 20021970–1980PitcherPhiladelphia Phillies1934Horvitz, pp. 109–110.Pitcher1905, 1908Horvitz, pp. 110–112.PitcherSt. Louis Browns1951Horvitz, pp. 112–113.Pitcher2000–2013, 2015PitcherChicago Cubs1957–1958Horvitz, pp. 113–114.Pitcher1912–1919Horvitz, pp. 114–117.OutfielderWashington Senators1915Horvitz, pp. 117–118.OutfielderPittsburgh Pirates1912–1914Horvitz, pp. 119–120.First baseman2023–presentPitcher1996Horvitz, pp. 120–121.Right fielder1965–1974Horvitz, pp. 121–123.PitcherCincinnati Reds2015–2016Pitcher1938, 1941–1942, 19481976–1984Horvitz, pp. 127–128.2014–presentPitcher1903–1912OutfielderBrooklyn Hartfords18771871–1878, 1881, 1887Outfielder2013–2025Second basemanPittsburgh Pirates1917–1918Horvitz, pp. 136–137.Relief pitcher2009, 2014
R–Z + Name Position Major League team(s) Years active Notes PitcherMontreal Expos1980–1981Horvitz, pp. 139–140.1930–1932Horvitz, pp. 140–141.ShortstopBoston Red Sox1951, 1953Horvitz, pp. 141–142.Pitcher1969–1981Horvitz, p. 143.Pitcher1949–1953, 1955–1957Third basemanCleveland Indians1947–1956Outfielder1937–1939, 1944–1946OutfielderNew York Giants1930Horvitz, p. 149.PitcherLos Angeles Angels2022–2024Chicago White Sox1923Horvitz, p. 150.Pitcher1988–1991Horvitz, pp. 150–151.OutfielderBrooklyn Robins / Dodgers1931–1933Horvitz, pp. 151–152.OutfielderBoston Red Sox1925–1926Horvitz, pp. 152–154.PitcherTexas Rangers1991–1992Horvitz, p. 153.PitcherPhiladelphia Phillies2022PitcherChicago White Sox1948, 1950–1951Third basemanPhiladelphia Athletics1947Horvitz, pp. 157–158.PitcherSan Francisco Giants2009PitcherColorado Rockies1998Third basemanSt. Louis Browns1895Horvitz, p. 159.Second basemanNew York Mets2011–2014PitcherCincinnati Redlegs1954PitcherWashington Senators1919–1921Pitcher1950–1951Horvitz, p. 163.PitcherBoston Braves1945Second basemanPhiladelphia Athletics1922–1923Horvitz, pp. 164–165.Outfielder1965, 1967–1969, 1971–1974First basemanNew York Giants1945–1946Pitcher1999–2010PitcherPhiladelphia Phillies2011–20121965–1972Outfielder1973–1975Horvitz, pp. 170–171.Pitcher2017–2023Relief pitcher1958–1969Catcher1959–1963Pitcher1942–1944Horvitz, pp. 175–176.Pitcher2023–presentLeft fielderCincinnati Redlegs1955–1956Horvitz, p. 176.Outfielder1934–1939Horvitz, pp. 176–177.OutfielderNew York Giants1923CatcherWashington Senators1935–1936Horvitz, pp. 179–180.PitcherSan Francisco Giants1980Outfielder2005–2006, 2010Pitcher2018–2021Starting pitcher1971–1981Catcher2019–presentPitcherSt. Louis Browns1947Horvitz, p. 183.Outfielder1958, 1961–1962Horvitz, pp. 183–184.First baseman 2018–presentPitcher1981–1983Cleveland Indians1943Third baseman2010–2018Pitcher1990, 1991Horvitz, pp. 185–186.PitcherFlorida Marlins2002–2004Pitcher1919–1924, 1927–1928, 19311933–1935, 1937–1938, 1944–1945Pitcher2018, 2022–2023First basemanArizona Diamondbacks 2008–2009PitcherWashington Senators1929PitcherHouston Colt .45s1963–19642004–2013PitcherHouston Astros2013–2014Shortstop1991–1992, 1995, 1999, 2000
Gallery
See also List of Jews in sports List of Jewish American sportspeople
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