Limmer's Special Pinch Hit Homer
Limmer, Rogovin, & Ginsberg: Three Jewish Players Made History
Apr 11, 2008
Cal Abrams, Lou Boudreau, Al Federoff, Joe Ginsberg, Sid Gordon, Lou Limmer, Duke Markell, Al Richter, Saul Rogovin, Al Rosen, Marv Rotblatt, and Sid Schacht had two things in common. All appeared in at least one game during the 1951 baseball and all were Jewish.
Boudreau, Gordon, Rogovin and Rosen Were Solid Players
Boudreau (Jewish mother), Gordon, Rogovin and Rosen compared favorably with the best players in the game. Boudreau led the 1948 Indians to the World Championship, Gordon was a solid hitting third baseman-outfielder with the New York Giants, Rogovin led the American League in ERA in 1951, and Rosen was one of the great third basemen of the 1950s, winning the American League MVP award in 1953, but it was Lou Limmer, Joe Ginsberg, and Rogovin who were involved in an event that has occurred only once in the history of the game.
A Special Pinch Hit Home Run: The Batter, Pitcher, and Catcher Were Jewish
On May 2, 1951 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Philadelphia A's pinch hitter Lou Limmer stepped into the batters box to face the Tigers' Saul Rogovin. The 6'2" right hander peered in to get the signal from catcher Joe Ginsberg, nodded assent, and went into the windup. Around came the arm, in came the pitch and Limmer swung, sending a drive to deep right that cleared the fence for a home run. Now, pinch hit home runs are not unique, but what is unique is that the pitcher, the catcher, and the hitter were all Jewish. It is the only known time in major league baseball that has occurred.
Limmer's First Major League Hit: A Yankee Stadium Pinch Hit Home Run
Limmer, who had been the American Association MVP in 1950, had one other moment of glory. On April 23, 1951 at Yankee Stadium, Limmer was sent up to pinch hit for Philadelphia catcher Joe Tipton. Facing Vic Raschi, Limmer hit a home run into the right field pavilion. It was his first major league hit. Limmer appeared in only 94 games for the 1951 A's, hitting a miserable .159 with 5 home runs. He spent the next two seasons in the minor leagues and rejoined Philadelphia in 1954, batting .231 with 14 home runs.
Ginsberg Was a Journeyman Catcher
Joe Ginsberg, who was really Myron Nathan, was a journeyman back up catcher who played for seven different teams. He never appeared in more than 113 games in any one season. He had a lifetime .241 batting average with 20 career home runs.
Rogovin Led the AL in ERA in 1951
Saul Rogovin had a brief career, pitching for the Tigers, White Sox, Orioles, and Phillies over 8 seasons. On May 15,1951 the Tigers traded him to Chicago, where he pitched effectively enough to win the ERA title, but he never won more than 14 games in any season. Rogovin had developed a sore arm when he pitched in an exhibition game on a cold Florida night in 1950, which would later end his career prematurely at the age of 33.
Saul's Baseball Card
When he was 51, Rogovin, returned to college. The dean informed him that despite his age, he would still be required to take physical education courses (51 was old in the 1970s). Rogovin merely smiled and showed the dean a Saul Rogovin baseball card. Rogovin met the physical education requirements and graduated from City College with a degree in English literature. He became an English teacher and often remarked "After I left the game there was a void, something empty I couldn't fill until I became a teacher."
Some Great Jewish Players
There have been some great Jewish players, including Sandy Koufax, who might have been the best left handed pitcher ever, with the possible exception of Lefty Grove, Hank Greenberg, who hit 58 home runs in 1938, and current players Ryan Braun and Kevin Youkilis, but there is little chance that the rare event involving Rogovin, Ginsberg, and Limmer will ever again occur.
References:
Effrat, Louis. "Bombers Score With Raschi, 5-4, As Mantle, DiMaggio, Rizzuto Star." New York Times. 24 April 1951, p. 47.
