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Exhibition Baseball Americana

Baseball Americana

Batter, Catcher, Soldier, Spy

Hank Greenberg (1911–1986) from Jewish Major Leaguers Baseball Cards set. Philadelphia: Fleer Skybox International, 2003. Hebraic Division, Library of Congress (052.00.00)
Sandy Koufax (b. 1935) from Jewish Major Leaguers Baseball Cards set. Philadelphia: Fleer Skybox International, 2003. Hebraic Division, Library of Congress (052.01.00)
Moe Berg (1902–1972) from Jewish Major Leaguers Baseball Cards set. Philadelphia: Fleer Skybox International, 2003. Hebraic Division, Library of Congress (052.02.00)
Lip Pike (1845–1893) from Jewish Major Leaguers Baseball Cards set. Philadelphia: Fleer Skybox International, 2003. Hebraic Division, Library of Congress (052.03.00)

Batter, Catcher, Soldier, Spy

Baseball’s first Jewish superstar, the “gentlemanly” long-ball hitter Lip Pike, was among the earliest recognized professional ballplayers, receiving $20 a week in 1866. His kindred successor, Detroit slugger “Hammerin’ Hank” Greenberg, was a mainstay of the Tigers and an early volunteer for military duty in World War II. While Greenberg served in China, the mysterious and multi-lingual Moe Berg, a former American League catcher, parachuted into Yugoslavia and conducted intelligence operations in Europe for the Office of Strategic Services. These collectibles are from the first card set commemorating Jewish players.