THE A-LIST / REMEMBRANCE
THE HEBREW NATIONAL ALL-STARS
AI, DIGITAL ILLUSTRATION & OIL PAINT ACCENTS PRINTED ON CANVAS, 36x48
PAUL JENNIS (2024)
This artwork features 18 Jews of great significance in the history of baseball. That number was chosen because it represents the Hebrew word Chai, meaning Life. There are 9 players in the Starting Lineup, depicted in their on-field positions, and 9 non-players of equal note on the scoreboard. From Pike to Kinsler, from Dreyfuss to Selig, these individuals have made a lasting contribution to baseball and, consequently, placed a Jewish imprint on America's Game.
RemembrancE
Since 1871, art related to Jewish baseball involvement has been created in many different media, by many different artists, both Jewish and not, and for a variety of purposes.
Whether to tell a baseball story through cartooning, to capture the essence of a player by portrait, or to memorialize a particular baseball scene, the many artists, past & present, who have contributed to this exhibit each has played a part in immortalizing the Jewish contributions to our National Pastime.
Since the turn of the 21st Century, the subject of Jews and baseball has become of increasing interest to baseball fans, Jewish and otherwise. In 2001, the subject exploded into the public's consciousness with publication of Peter & Joachim Horvitz' encyclopedic work, The Big Book of Jewish Baseball. That was followed in 2003 by Jewish Major Leaguers’ first of seven sets of Jewish baseball cards. Next, in 2004, came the first ever Celebration of Jews in Baseball at the baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Finally, in 2008, the Hall hosted an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of Hank Greenberg becoming a Major Leaguer.
When one combines those events with documentarian Aviva Kempner's seminal films about Hank Greenberg and then Moe Berg, it is clear that the subject of Jews and baseball has many fascinating branches. I hope that this art collection will motivate you to further explore the Jewish Field of (Baseball) Dreams, thereby helping to keep alive an important American story.