Page 40 - Jewish News_may2021

40 May 2021 COMMENTARY

A Jewish refugee and baseball

By Sigmund Tobias
he beginning of the baseball arranged for me to attend a festive lunch, perennial winners they had always tually ended up breaking my heart by
season made me recall my ap- organized so that a number of refugee been. moving away from Brooklyn, and I
Tpearance on Jackie Robinson’s kids could enjoy their first Thanksgiv- The Dodgers’ first World Series have never recovered my interest in the
radio program shortly after arriving ing dinner. The lunch was held in a victory finally came in 1955. I was a game. I learned then, and often thereaf-
in the U.S. in 1948. Robinson was the well-known restaurant in Manhattan’s graduate student by then, struggling ter, that the loyalty of fans means little
first African American permitted to Central Park. At the meal, I was one of to make it on a tight budget. Never- to team owners who care only about
play in the major several kids who spoke English fluent- theless, my wife Lora and I celebrated the bottom line.
leagues the previ- ly enough so that we could be invited the team’s victory by splurging and ac- Sigmund Tobias is a university profes-
ous year. He rap- to appear on Robinson’s radio program tually going out to dinner in a restau- sor who has retired in Sarasota and is
idly became a star in honor of the holiday. Robinson had rant. an occasional contributor to this pub-
for the Brooklyn a 15-minute sports show on WMCA in Unfortunately, the Dodgers even- lication.
Dodgers, an ex- New York at that time. I knew nothing
cellent hitter and about the game but loved the idea of
fielder, as well as appearing on a radio program. On the ADULTS
a feared base run- field, Robinson was known as a fierce
Sigmund Tobias ner. competitor. Off the field, however, he CHARITY CULTURE
I was living in the Hebrew National was a kind and gentle man who appre-
Orphan Home in Yonkers, New York, ciated the story of how this refugee kid KIDS
at that time until my parents followed came to America. JEWISH
me to America a year later. The Home Naturally, I became a rabid Dodg- CALENDAR
Crossword Puzzle ers fan who loved this former docile OF EVENTS Your Hub
team that had perennially been at the
Solution to puzzle on page 27 lowest levels of the National League. IN SARASOTA for Jewish Events
During Robinson’s years and there- AND MANATEE
after, the lowly Dodgers reached new
heights and became frequent contend-
ers for the pennant who played, and
lost, in several World Series. That did
not stop my enthusiasm for the team. LEARN
I recall getting my parents’ permission FAMILY
to wake up at 5:00 a.m. one morning
and line up for the inexpensive bleach-
er seats at Ebbets Field, the Dodgers’
them lose, as usual, to the New York JFEDSRQ.org/JewishEvents
home stadium in Brooklyn. I watched

Yankees, who had the chutzpah of the

Safely
Safely
Safely
Safely
STEPping
STEPping

Out!
Out!

Anna Maria
Anna Maria
Anna Maria
Anna Maria
Island/03.07.21
Island/03.07.21
Island/03.07.21
Island/03.07.21 What do you think?
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