The Jewish Sports Hall of Fame will be hosting a screening of Jews & Baseball: An American Love Story (see related post for details on the documentary film) on Monday, October 4 (thanks to Noam for the tip!). The screening of documentary offers a unique opportunity for Jewish baseball memorabilia collectors.
According to the JSHOF’s web site: “Immediately following the screening there will be a question and answer
session with Ira Berkow, the film’s screenwriter; former New York Met,
Art Shamsky; author Marty Appel; former [Jewish] major leaguer Larry Yellen and
(possibly) the film’s director Peter Miller.”
The film has been getting terrific reviews (at least from the folks I know who’ve seen it).
As to collectibles associated with this showing …
- Ira Berkow is, of course, the Pulitzer prize winning former New York Times
sportswriter and author of Hank Greenberg: The Story of My Life, the movie that inspired the
Aviva Kempner film. Berkow is the author of numerous other books. - A member of the “Miracle Mets,” Shamsky has numerous collectibles. His cards include several JML issues (2003, #95; 2009, Title card and #28). Beckett dealers list Shamsky’s 1966-1972 Topps cards for $3 or less. eBay
offers myriad Shamsky collectibles (as always, buyer beware). Shamsky is the author of The Magnificent Seasons: How the Jets, Mets, and Knicks Made Sports History and Uplifted a City and the Country, and subject (with his ’69 Mets teammates) of numerous other books. And, for collectors seeking a more personal touch, Shamsky also sells signed and personalized memorabilia through his web site, www.ArtShamsky.com.
- Marty Appel, the former Yankees PR director and promoter of the Jewish Major Leaguers card series (among his many other clients), is also the author of numerous books.
- Larry Yellen pitched in just 14 games during his two-year career. Yellen’s 1965 Topps card (#292) sells for under $3 on Beckett. In addition to his 1965 card, Yellen’s 1964 Topps rookie card (#226) is available on eBay
for about $5. eBay sellers are also offering Yellen’s JML card (2003, #93; 2006/2007 #48 – “Cooperstown Eight”) for $2-$5.
Is anyone planning to attend the JSHOF screening of Jews And Baseball? WIll you be attempting to get collectibles signed by the special guests? Does anyone know of any Miller memorabilia? What Berkow, Shamsky, Appel or Yellen memorabilia do you have in your collection?