NEWTON, Massachusetts (Press Release)– Ryan Braun and Scott Feldman have been named the Most Valuable Jewish Players of the Year by Jewish Major Leaguers, Inc. (“JML”), the not-for-profit baseball history organization that produces Jewish baseball cards and Hall of Fame programs honoring Jews in the Game.
The 2009 Position Player of the Year is Ryan Braun, the slugging left-fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. Braun’s .319 Batting Average and 32 homers were tops among Jewish players, and his 203 hits led the National League in that category- a “first” in Jewish baseball history.
Braun’s father is an Israeli-born Jew.
JML’s choice as pitcher of the year is Texas Rangers right-hander Scott Feldman. In his fifth season, and second as a starter, Feldman went 17-8, with a 4.08 ERA. His 17 wins were the most for a Jewish starter since Steve Stone of Baltimore in 1980.
The JML awards tradition began last season, when the winners were Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis and Pirates reliever John Grabow.
JML is currently conducting online balloting for Jewish Major Leaguer of the Decade at www.jewishmajorleaguers.org. The winning player will be announced in January.
Braun and Feldman will be featured on a special card in the 2010 edition of Jewish Major Leaguer cards, to be released in the spring.
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.
*
Preceding provided by Jewish Major Leaguers