Israeli baseball team prepares for WBC bid
The Israeli baseball team, fueled by a roster mostly filled with Americans, is seeking to qualify for next year's World Baseball Classic.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
|
Shlomo Lipetz, left, a native of Tel Aviv who lives now in New York, got hooked on a baseball as a child during a trip to see the New York Mets.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
|
Former Major League Shawn Green, a two-time All-Star who's now 39, is one of several ex-big leaguers playing for the squad.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
|
Bullpen catcher Nate Fish delivered the blessing when the team gathered for Rosh Hashanah dinner on Sunday.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
|
Fish bills himself as the "King of Jewish baseball" and has a blog where he documents the team's path to the WBC.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
|
The team must win a qualifier to make it to the March tournament. Oren Gal was thrown out trying to score in a scrimmage.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
|
Lipetz and the team have been training in Florida, where they recently took in a Marlins game as a team-building event.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
|
Ex-big leaguer Brad Ausmus, the team's manager, officiated this footrace between outfielder Josh Weiss, left, and his nephew.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
|
Ausmus, left, has commitments from major leaguers such as Kevin Youkilis to join the team in March if it qualifies for the WBC.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
|
