Description

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Following the 1972 Olympics one sportswriter referred to Mark Spitz, winner of seven gold medals, as “the first great Jewish athlete.” He couldn’t have been more wrong. As Jewish Sports Legends shows, Jews have excelled at athletics for centuries. This engaging volume illuminates the lives and unforgettable accomplishments of Jews in virtually every major sport played worldwide. Baseball stars Sandy Koufax and Hank Greenberg, basketball’s Red Auerbach and Dolph Schayes, and football’s Sid Luckman and Marv Levy are only a few notable examples.

With photographs accompanying almost every sports personality, this fifth edition introduces some famous and some not-so-famous Jewish sports greats throughout history. More than eighty new entries have been added to the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame since 2005, among them Lyle Alzado, Max Baer, Ira Berkow, Kenny Bernstein, Sasha Cohen, Shawn Green, Donna Geils Orender, Aly Raisman, and Bud Selig. While most of those profiled are professional sport champions and Olympic gold medalists, the book also features great coaches, officials, journalists, and other significant contributors in every major sport.
  

About the Author

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Joseph Siegman is a Los Angeles–based entertainment executive. He founded the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 1979 and is its past chairman. Mark Spitz set a multitude of swimming world records and is a nine-time Olympic gold medalist.
 

 

Praise For…

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“As a piece of reference material it is a fine accomplishment. It’s exhaustive research into a myriad of sports, and the accompanying biographies and pictures are done first class. . . . It is an education.”—Los Angeles Times

“The impressive achievements of Jews in sports are well documented in this encyclopedic reference volume. . . . A first-rate account of Jews in sports since the end of the nineteenth century.”—Jerusalem Post

“Any sports enthusiast, armchair or otherwise, will find this book a fascinating read. This is indeed a keepsake to read and hold for many years for those interested in sports of all ages.”—National Jewish Post and Opinion

“It is the ultimate book for the serious sports fan.”—Jewish News

“Jewish stars shine! The book should put to rest the notion that there are few great Jewish athletes. The book profiles the nearly 250 members of the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.”—Washington Jewish Week

“Libraries with a strong emphasis on sports collections may want to add this title to their collection.”—American Reference Books Annual

“This encyclopedic and lavishly illustrated volume covers a dizzying array of sports. . . . I was amazed!”—Canadian Jewish News