Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times wrote that the "warm and enthusiastic" film "not only lives up to its title... but also delivers a bit extra as well".[1] The documentary received the Best Editing Award at the Breckenridge Film Festival for Editor Amy Linton,[4] the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival,[5] and the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Documentary at the 2011 Seattle Jewish Film Festival.[6]
Dustin Hoffman does not normally narrate films, and initially turned down the project. However, when he looked at the script, he changed his mind, saying, "Oh, this is about bigotry and overcoming anti-Semitism, about discrimination and these issues that I grew up with, that really matters to me."[9]
The film opens with a clip from the 1980 satirical comedy film Airplane!, in which a flight attendant is asked by a passenger if she has anything light to read. She responds by offering an ultra-thin leaflet, saying, "How about this leaflet, Famous Jewish Sports Legends?".[1]
The stereotype of Jews as non-athletic, as well as anti-semitism, are two issues that many Jewish baseball players faced and had to overcome. Noted anti-semite Henry Ford wrote on May 22, 1920: "If fans wish to know the trouble with American baseball they have it in three words—too much Jew."[10] A number of early Jewish ballplayers changed their names, so that it would not be apparent that they were Jewish.[10]
The movie discusses the key Jewish ballplayers in each decade since baseball started in the 1860s, and how that helped Jews assimilate and counteract the stereotype of Jews as cerebral but non-athletic.[1][2][11][12] The film is partly about Jewish immigration and assimilation into American society; bigotry against Jews; the passing on of Jewish traditions, even during assimilation; heroism; and the breaking of Jewish stereotypes.[2][11][12]
Director Miller said:
At its heart, this is a film about overcoming stereotypes. Bigotry against Jews has faded a great deal ...
The story of a once-marginalized people finding their way into the American mainstream offers lessons for a country that continues to grapple with its ideal as a place where talent should overcome prejudice, where we can retain our differences while still being American, where anyone who can hit or pitch or run can be a part of the magic and drama of our national game.[13]
The documentary contains rare archival footage and photos, and music ranging from Benny Goodman to Yo-Yo Ma to Rush.[2]
The documentary especially focuses on two players. One is Hank Greenberg, a two-time American League MVP, five-time All Star, and Hall of Famer. Anti-Semitic barbs directed at him from the stands served to motivate him, he said.[10] He sat out Yom Kippur during a tight pennant race on the advice of his mother.[1][9][12] The film notes a column in the Detroit Free Press, in which Edgar Guest wrote, in response to Greenberg's absence from the lineup, "We shall miss him on the infield, and shall miss him at the bat, but he's true to his religion and we honor him for that."[10]
The other is Sandy Koufax, Hall of Fame pitcher, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 7-time All Star, who sat out Game 1 of the 1965 World Series to observe Yom Kippur, out of respect of his heritage. Koufax had never pitched on any of the High Holy Days in his career, and chose not to during Game 1. In his place, Don Drysdale started and was hit hard; when DodgersmanagerWalter Alston arrived at the mound to take him out of the game, Drysdale quipped, "Right now I bet you wish I was Jewish too."[17] Koufax agreed to a rare filmed interview for the documentary.[1][9][12][18]
It's something that I probably won't realize until my career is over, how many people are really rooting for me and cheering for me. And it's not just because I went 3-for-4, or had a great game. It's just the fact that I represent a lot of Jewish people and a lot of the Jewish heritage and the struggles that a lot of our people have had.[13]
Kenneth Turan of The Los Angeles Times, describing it as "warm and enthusiastic", wrote that the documentary "not only lives up to its title ... but also delivers a bit extra as well".[1]
John Anderson wrote in Variety, "With terrific narration by Dustin Hoffman, Jews and Baseball makes effective use of archival footage and interviews, the most spectacular of which is a lengthy sequence featuring the usually reclusive Koufax."[12]
Andrew Schenker of Time Out New York described it as "a breezy compendium of fun facts and colorful figures... likely to prove irresistible to baseball fans, Hebraic or otherwise".[22]
Newsday described it as "stirring, revelatory and affectionate. Jews and Baseball knocks it out of the park."
The film received the Best Editing Award at the Breckenridge Film Festival, recognizing the work of film editor Amy Linton,[4] the Audience Choice Award at the 2011 Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival,[5] and the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Documentary at the 2011 Seattle Jewish Film Festival.[6]
