Valencia made his Major League debut in 2010 with the Minnesota Twins. He batted .311, swatted 7 HRs and 40 RBIs over 85 games, and garnered enough votes to finish third in the A.L. Rookie of the Year polling, according to JBallNews. After a significant sophomore slump in 2011, Valencia was sent to the minors by the Twins in 2011 and then traded to the Red Sox, for whom he appeared in just 10 games before being traded to the O's in the off-season.
Valencia had a strong showing with Baltimore in 2013 Spring Training, but started the season with the AAA Norfolk Tides. He performed well in the International League, batting .306 in 40 games with 11 HRs, 14 doubles and 35 RBIs before his call-up.
Recalled on Sunday, May 19, the newest Jewish Major Leaguer whacked a double in his first at-bat of his first game with the O's.
Jewish baseball collectors have access to numerous of Valencia cards and memorabilia.
Valencia has more than 200 different cards, according to Beckett.com.
This includes a wide variety of big league issues from Topps and Bowman. In addition to his standard cards, Valencia's pasteboard includes dozens of limited edition color variations, autographed and memorabilia cards, and serial numbered limited edition printings.
Among my favorites are Valencia's 2010 Topps Update Rookie card, 2011 Topps Gypsy Queen, 2011 Topps Triple Threads autographed memorabilia, and 2012 Topps cards, pictured above.
Danny Valencia New Britain Rock Cats card. Photo courtesy of eBay.
Valencia's minor league cards include team issues from the 2005 Glacier Pilots, 2006 Elizabethton Twins, 2007 Beloit Snappers, 2008 Fort Meyers Miracle, 2009 New Britain Rock Cats, 2010 Rochester Red Wings, as well as 2009 AA and 2010 AAA Top Prospects cards.
Prices vary widely, depending on the seller and the scarcity of the card you seek.
Danny Valencia signed ball. Photo courtesy of eBay.
Among the Valencia memorabilia available on eBay and Amazon.com at the time of this posting were signed bats, baseballs, jerseys, batting gloves and mini helmets, along with a variety of autographed and unsigned photos. Prices range from $30-a few dollars to more than $250, depending on the item.
As always, buyers beware.
Two photos featuring Valencia in his Twins uniform are available for purchase on the MLB.com Photo Store.
Danny Valencia walk-off hit. Photo courtesy of MLB.com Photo Store. Photo by Hannah Foslien, Getty Images.
This includes an image of his teammates mobbing Valencia after an extra-innings game-winning hit.
No Valencia memorabilia is available for sale in the MLB.com Shop, as of this posting.
In 2010, following his call up to the Majors during his rookie campaign for the Twins, I obtained a through-the-mail autograph from Valencia. I've subsequently mailed to him during Spring Training on two different occassions, without success. Has anyone else obtained Valencia's signature, either in person or through-the-mail.
What Valencia cards and memorabilia do you have in your Jewish baseball collection? Have you met him? Let JSC readers know by commenting below.
The most notable, however, of Robinson's Jewish opponents was Hank Greenberg.
Robinson faced Greenberg during Robinson's 1947 rookie season and Greenberg's last season as a player.
Pee Wee Reese puts an arm around Jackie Robinson in 42. Photo courtesy of IMDB.com.
A touching scene in 42 shows Dodger captain Pee Wee Reese placing an arm around Robinson on May 13, 1947 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, comforting Robinson while fans hurled racial epitaphs. The tear-jerking scene is given the full Hollywood treatment, and is a high point of the movie. According to ESPN.com, however, it may not have happened as depicted in the film.
What happened on May 15, when Brooklyn played against Pittsburgh -- Greenberg's team -- that year is clear.
"The most dramatic
display of Jewish solidarity with Jackie Robinson came from Hank
Greenberg. The legendary Detroit Tiger slugger who hit 58 home runs in 1938, then
with the Pittsburgh Pirates in his last season, was the first opposing player to
offer Robinson encouragement. Probably no major leaguer before Robinson
had been more abused by opposing players and fans than Greenberg, who was
continually taunted for being Jewish.
"On May 15, 1947,
in a game between the Pirates and the Dodgers, Robinson laid down a
perfect bunt and streaked down the line to first. The pitcher’s
throw pulled first
baseman Greenberg off the bag. Reaching for the throw, he collided with Robinson, who
was able to get up and reach second. The next inning Greenberg walked,
and asked Robinson, who was playing first base, if he had been hurt in the
collision. Assured by Robinson that he hadn’t been, Greenberg said to him, 'Don’t pay any attention to these guys who are trying to make it
hard for you. Stick in
there ... . I hope you and I can get together for a talk. There are a few things I’ve
learned down through the years that might help you and make it easier.'"
Despite wide coverage of the episode at the time it took place -- Robinson old the New York Times, “Class tells. It sticks out all over Mr. Greenberg.” -- the conversation between Robinson and Greenberg is given scant attention by Robinson's biographers.
Hank Greenberg: The Story of My Life. Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.
Both Robinson and Greenberg, however, mention it in their autobiographies; Robinson in Jackie Robinson: My Own Story(co-written by African-American sportswriter Wendell Smith, who chronicled Robinson's rookie season for the Pittsburgh Courier), and Greenberg in Hank Greenberg: The Story of My Life (co-authored by Ira Bekow).
Recalls Greenberg:
"Here were our guys, a bunch of ignorant, stupid Southerners who couldn't speak properly ... and all they could do was make jokes about Jackie. The couldn't recognize that they had a special person in front of them. ... I identified with Jackie Robinson. I had feelings for him because they had treated me the same way. Not as bad, but they made remarks about my being a sheenie and a Jew all the time."
Hank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes. Photo courtesy of Amazon.com.
John Rosengren's new biography of Greenberg, Hank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes, also recounts the episode (drawing on The Story of My Life as a source).
"The moment held lasting significance for Robinson," writes Rosengren. "It also burnished Hank's reputation as a hero for the way he conducted himself."
"My Dad said, many times, that he didn't know what having it bad was until he saw what Jackie Robinson went through in 1947," recounts Steve Greenberg, Hank's son, in Life and Times.
Two baseball cards also commemorate Robinson and Greenberg's infamous interaction.
These include a 2002 Fleer "Rival Factions" card and a 2008 Jewish Major Leaguers issue.
The Fleer card includes standard and limited edition variations.
The later include cards featuring swatches of Robinson's game used pants, slices of Greenberg's bats, or both.
Beckett.com offers a checklist of the various issues.
As of the time of this posting, no Beckett Marketplace seller is offering the card. Prices, when collectors can find the Fleer cards on eBay or Amazon, range from $10-$100 or more, depending on the scarcity of the particular issue.
While potentitally difficult and costly to obtain, the Robinson pants/Greenberg bat variation (which saw a limited production of just 50 cards) would represent a jewel in the crown of any Jewish baseball card collector, in my opinion.
The only problem with the card is that it depicts Greenberg in his Detroit Tigers uniform. Greenberg, of course, played for the Pirates when he faced Robinson, and for the Tigers for years prior to Robinson's major league debut. As such, Greenberg as a Tiger was never a "rival" of Robinson's.
Even with this historical inaccuracy, I think the card is a terrific addition to any Jewish baseball collection.
Hank Greenberg Jackie Robinson JML card. Photo courtesy of JSC.
The Jewish Major Leaguers card is much more accessible to buyers who don't have deep pockets.
Card #50 in the 2008 "Hank Greenberg 75th Anniversary Edition of the JML series, titled "An Encounter," can be found on Amazon
for $4.
At the time of this posting, no Beckett Marketplace or eBay sellers were offering the 2008 JML card.
Do JewishSportsCollectibles.com readers know of other Hank Greenberg and Jackie Robinson memorabilia? Let JSC know by commenting below.
We'll look at the ties between, and collectibles associated with, Robinson and his Brooklyn Dodgers teammate Sandy Koufax in the next posting in this series. Stay tuned.
A sell-out, the February 27 event featured Jewish sportswriter and broadcaster Len Berman moderating a panel discussion that include three renowned Jewish baseball authors and two former Jewish Major Leaguers.
Baseball historian and author John Thorn was scheduled to appear, but was ill and unable to take part.
Former Yankees media relations representative and sports publicist Marty Appel, himself a Jew and the author of several baseball books, handled PR for the event.
In an email following the festivities, Appel told JewishSportsCollectibles.com that Leavy shared with the crowd the story of Sandy Koufax attending her daughter's bat mitzvah.
"He doesn't like those sorts of things
because when he enters, 250 people come at him, it detracts from the
event, and engulfs him," Appel said, relaying Leavy's account of the day. "But he did this for Jane, who quickly hustled [Sandy] into a private study for peace and quiet prior to the ceremony.
"In
the study was Emma, the bat mitzvah girl, and a friend of hers, a
boy. The boy asked Sandy how to throw a curve ball, and Sandy
demonstrated. The boy insisted he was wrong, that this is the
way you throw it.
"Amused, Sandy made the point that he had some
success with his style. The boy refused to budge and said Sandy was
not doing it right, he should do it his way.
"Finally, Sandy said, 'Look, this is how you $%^$E throw it!' The profanity was
ballplayer-talk, and brought the house down."
Former Jewish Major Leaguers Ron Blomberg and Art Shamsky also headlined the affair. Blomberg shared with attendees some of the stories contained in his autobiography, Designated Hebrew.
Appel tells JSC that Blomberg "talked about growing up Jewish in Atlanta, surrounded by KKK, but always a Yankee fan."
Several IBL veterans, including Nate Fish and Shlomo Lipetz, who coached and pitched with Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers, and Secretary-General, Israel Association of Baseball Peter Kurz attended the function.
The event featured a display of Jewish baseball memorabilia, including autographed uniforms from Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax and a team signed Team Israel WBC jersey.
The artwork was auctioned during the event, with proceed benefiting AJHS.
The first 100 attendees who purchased $150 “reserved seats” received a gold-trimmed, limited edition set of the 2003 edition of Jewish Major Leaguers baseball cards, and attendees could also purchase JML card sets during the event.
I only wish I could have attended the AJHS Night of Jewish Baseball, instead of blogging about it from afar. Alas, I'm in Ohio and the event was held in New York City.
All event photos used above are by Melanie Einzig, courtesy of the American Jewish Historical Society. Additional photos can be found on the AJHS web site and Facebook page.
But, for Jewish baseball enthusiasts and collectors fortunate enough to be able to go, the
event promises to be exciting.
Author and sportscaster Len Berman is
moderating a panel discussion that is scheduled to include four renowned
authors and two former Jewish Major Leaguers, both of whom are also published authors.
The Jewish sportswriters and authors
schedule to appear include:
A frequent signer, Blomberg items -- including signed and inscribed baseballs, photos, bats, jerseys and cards -- are plentiful on Beckett.com, eBay and Amazon.com. Collectors can also purchase memorabilia directly from Blomberg, via his website.
Art Shamsky Jewish Major Leaguers card. Photo courtesy of JSC.
Collectors have access to dozens of Shamsky cards (see Beckett.com for a checklist). His cards and other collectibles, including autographed memorabilia, are plentiful on eBay and Amazon.com. Jewish baseball enthusiasts can also purchase memorabilia from Shamsky's web site.
AJHS will have a display of Jewish baseball memorabilia,
including autographed uniforms from Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax and
the World Baseball Classic Team Israel during the event.
Ron Lewis Jewish Baseball lithograph. Photo courtesy of JewishBaseballPlayer.com and AJHS.
The lithograph will be
available for bid at silent auction.
The first 100 attendees who
purchased $150 “reserved seats” will receive a gold-trimmed, limited
edition set of the 2003 edition of Jewish Major Leaguers baseball cards.
Are
any JewishSportsCollectibles.com readers planning to attend the AJHS
Night of Jewish Baseball? Share your experiences from the
evening by commenting below, or by emailing jsportscollctr@gmail.com. And, stay tuned to JSC for pictures from the event in a future posting.
Do you have $25,000 lying around and an interest in vintage Jewish baseball uniforms? If so, this eBay auction should grab your attention.
YMHA baseball jersey, circa 1870-1890. Photo courtesy of eBay.
Available for Buy It Now price of $25,000.00 or a best offer, is a complete baseball uniform, circa 1870-1890, including wool jersey and pants. The jersey bears a Young Men's Hebrew Association (YMHA) patch on the left breast.
The seller has a 100% satisfaction rating, and lists details of the item as follows:
"This YMHA baseball uniform is in very good to excellent condition! To find an early period baseball uniform in this condition is a one in a million find. Also, we would like to add, Mr. Tim Wiles, Director of Research at the Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame left a message on my answering machine, requesting color photographs of this uniform. Evidently, from what I understand this uniform is very rare! The label of manufacture is missing, although the hand sewn stitching is still visible, measuring approximately 1.25" x 2". The entire uniform is made from wool. There are no holes, loose threads, or worn spots. There are four buttons on the fly with one missing ivory colored button (3rd button down from the waist button). There is substantial hand stitching on this uniform. There are very light stains from the last time it was worn. Only the pants have these stains. The shirt is spotless. The YMHA patch measures approximately 6" across and is hand stitched. This piece should be placed in an historical institution representing the Jewish and early American baseball foundation. Serious inquiries only."
The seller encourages collectors interested in buying the uniform to call a phone number included with the eBay listing. For the sake of the seller's privacy, I am choosing not to list the number here.
In conducting my reasearch while writing the initial posting of this article on February 18, I emailed the eBay seller, who it turns out is a listing agent for the piece. She, in turn, referred me to the uform's owner, autograph/rare document dealer John Tkachuk, whom I spoke with on February 19.
Tkachuk tells JewishSportsCollectibles.com that he runs JT Productions, a business that privately sells documents associated with the signers of Declaration of Independence and Revolutionary War figures. Tkachuk says he also mainatins an archive of JFK Bay of Pigs memorabilia and documents.
According to Tkachuk, he also occasionally buys and resells vintage sports memorabilia. His previous sales, Tkachuk says, include the five reels of film that comprise Heading Home, a silent film starring Babe Ruth, which Tkachuk says he sold in an early 2000s sale staged by the now disgraced and defunct Mastro Auctions.
Tkachuk says he purchased the YMHA uniform directly from a friend who owns a pawn shop in Utica, New York. At the same time, he says he purchased several PSA graded cards
and Joe DiMaggio autographed baseballs.
The uniform had been in the pawn shop, Tkachuk says, for approximately 20-30 years, having been pawned by a unknown customer.
While he could offer no details of the uniform's provenance, Tkachuk told JSC that the YMHA baseball uniform “may be one of the only one [of its kind] in existence. ... It's a rare piece.”
Tkachuk says he has received several inquires since listing the uniform on eBay, and hopes it ends up in an institutional or
museum collection.
To that end, I contacted Tim Wiles, director of research, at the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum. "I think it would be inaccurate to say either that the Hall has an interest in it or that I do," Wiles told JSC in an email. "The owner contacted me in my role as reference librarian and asked me what I could tell him about the uniform. As is par for the course, I requested photographs, as it is difficult to say much about an artifact unless you can see it. That's the extent of our contact."
None of this information is an indictment of the uniform's authenticity, or the seller's reputation or trustworthiness. It does, however, highlight the fact that collectors should do their own due diligance before making any purchase. And, buyers should always beware ... especially with a piece of this nature.
, 
by Peter and Joachim Horvitz are all excellent resources for learning more about Jewish Major Leaguers on the era.
(co-authored by 
, also recounts the episode (drawing on The Story of My Life as a source).
and 
also touch, to varying extents, on Greenberg and Robinson's interaction.
and the YouTube documentary, 
range from $10-$100 or more, depending on the scarcity of the particular issue.
for $4.
, and 
and 
.
. Blomberg is also a veteran of the 