NEWTON, Massahusetts (Press Release) – For the second consecutive year, Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun has been named Most Valuable Jewish Player of the Year by Jewish Major Leagues, Inc. (“JML”), the not-for-profit baseball history organization that produces Jewish baseball cards and Hall of Fame programs honoring Jews in the game.
Craig Breslow of Oakland, who worked in 75 games and held opponents to a .194 batting average, has been named Most Valuable Jewish Pitcher of the Year.
Braun, whose father in an Israeli-born Jew, batted .304 in 2010, the third time in his four seasons that he has topped .300, giving him a .307 lifetime batting average. He has made the All-Star team in each of his last three seasons. In 2010 he drove in 103 runs, topping 100 for the third year in a row, and his 25 home runs gave him 128 for his four seasons. The 2007 Rookie of the Year has been a workhorse, missing only 20 games since 2008.
Breslow, completing his second year with Oakland, won four and saved five out of the A’s bullpen and had a 3.01 ERA, giving him a 2.87 ERA for his five Major League seasons, tops among active Jewish pitchers. He had 71 strikeouts in 74 2/3 inning pitched in 2010.
Braun and Scott Feldman were last year’s winners. In 2008, Kevin Youkilis and Jason Marquis took top honors.
Braun and Breslow are featured in the 2010 edition of Jewish Major Leaguer cards, still available at www.Jewishmajorleaguers.org. 2010 marked the final edition of JML cards.
Jewish Major Leagues, Inc. is an organization dedicated to furthering education on the contributions of Jews to baseball through card products and seminars. The group is headquartered in Newton, MA, and headed by Martin Abramowitz, a leading authority on the subject, and creator of the concept which led to the first set of cards, featuring all Jewish players in history, released in 2003.
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Preceding provided by Jewish Major Leagues, Inc.