Designated Hitters: The Story of Israel Baseball
By The Joshua Network
This limited-run podcast will tell the story of how a small country the size of New Jersey which features no professional baseball league managed to produce a world-class team that beat a string of baseball Goliaths to secure a trip to Tokyo. With unprecedented insider access to players, coaches, and managers, the show will tell the stories of the ragtag team of athletes -- some former Majo
Designated Hitters: The Story of Israel Baseball Apr 28, 2021
9 - Blake Gailen, Part 1
Team Israel slugger Blake Gailen is our guest for episode no. 9 of the Israel Baseball Podcast. Co-host Mike Wilner joins Frankie Sachs to talk to Blake. Because Blake had so many great stories, we split the interview into two parts. This first one delves into Blake's time playing in Australia this winter, where he led the Melbourne Aces to the ABL championship, and his time in the minor leagues.
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Shop the largest selection of official Israel Baseball merchandise.
8 - MLB columnists Ken Davidoff, Alyson Footer and Jeff Passan
For episode no. 8 of the Israel baseball Podcast, we have something a little different. Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star is back to co-host alongside Frankie Sachs and they chat with MLB national columnists Ken Davidoff of The New York Post, Alyson Footer of MLB.com and Jeff Passan of ESPN. The topics discussed include some great Sandy Koufax stories, why they became baseball journalists, advice for aspiring baseball writers and we speculated about the next Jewish Hall of Famer. Although this episode is a detour from the stories of Team Israel and its run to the Olympic Games, I am certain any fan of Israel Baseball will enjoy it.
Support Team Israel and Project Baseball
Shop the largest selection of official Israel Baseball merchandise.
7 - Josh Zeid with Nate Fish and co-host Mike Wilner
Mike Wilner joins Frankie Sachs as the co-host for episode No. 7 of the Israel Baseball Podcast, which features two guests: pitcher Josh Zeid and third-base coach Nate Fish. Listen to Nate talk about Team Israel's new 25th Player campaign before Josh discusses his experiences with the team over the past nine years.
Below you will find some links to things mentioned on this podcast.
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The 25th player campaign video
Dr. Copeland's talk before the opening game of the 2012 WBC qualifiers
6 - Team Israel Manager Eric Holtz
For Episode No. 6 of the Israel Baseball Podcast, Frankie Sachs hosts Team Israel manager Eric Holtz. Eric's path from his childhood in the Bronx to the Tokyo Olympics has been an interesting one and in this episode, he discusses how he left baseball in college only to return to it years later and eventually become a college coach, the oldest player in the first – and only – season of the Israel Baseball League and the man who would lead Team Israel's historic run to qualify for the Olympic Games. To coach Team Israel, you have to be a colorful guy. Eric is that and much more, as you will see in this episode.
The Israel Baseball Podcast is the official podcast of the Israel Association of Baseball. In the coming months, host Frankie Sachs will speak to the players and coaches who helped Team Israel qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where this summer Israel will be among six squads competing for a medal. Get your official Team Israel merchandise at teamisraelbaseball.com
5 - Joey Wagman
Joey Wagman was Team Israel's top pitcher in 2019 as he led the blue-and-white crew through four tournaments with one excellent performance after another in Bulgaria, Lithuania, Germany and Italy, despite not pitching for more than a year before due to shoulder surgery. Hear from Joey about his baseball beginnings, pitching for Team Israel at the World Baseball Classic, driving in Tel Aviv after he made aliyah and, of course, clinching a berth at the 2020 Olympic Games in this episode of The Israel Baseball Podcast.
The Israel Baseball Podcast is the official podcast of the Israel Association of Baseball. In the coming months, host Frankie Sachs will speak to the players and coaches who helped Team Israel qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where this summer Israel will be among six squads competing for a medal. Get your official Team Israel merchandise at teamisraelbaseball.com
4 - Mitch Glasser
The Israel Baseball Podcast is the official podcast of the Israel Association of Baseball. In this episode, host Frankie Sachs chats with Team Israel infielder Mitch Glasser. Mitch is passionate about baseball, playing for Team Israel and the future of the sport in Israel. He also revealed some exciting information about his growing family!
If you want to dress like Mitch and the rest of your favorite Team Israel players, get your official merchandise at teamisraelbaseball.com
3 - Simon Rosenbaum
Simon Rosenbaum is the guest on Episode 3 of the Israel Baseball Podcast. Simon is the Assistant Director of Minor League Operations and Baseball Development with the Tampa Bay Rays and has been playing First Base and outfield for Team Israel since 2014.
Alon Leichman and Shlomo Lipetz - Part 2
Episode No. 2 is the second half of our conversation with Team Israel pitchers Shlomo Lipetz and Alon Leichman. Among many topics covered, Alon shares the injuries that disrupted his career and led him on the path to becoming a pitching coach in the Seattle Mariners' farm system. Shlomo tells the story of pitching both ends of a double-header in one of the greatest individual feats in Israel Baseball history.
Alon Leichman and Shlomo Lipetz - Part 1
The Israel Baseball Podcast is the official podcast of the Israel Association of Baseball. In the coming moments, host Frankie Sachs will speak to the players and coaches who helped Team Israel qualify for the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where this summer the boys in blue-and-white will be among six squads competing for a medal.
The first episode features pitchers Shlomo Lipetz and Alon Leichman. Listen in as the pitchers reminisce about their beginnings in a sport few played in Israel, how they ended up playing college baseball in the United States and their road to Tokyo. Hear behind-the-scenes tales of Shlomo coaching Alon on Israel’s 12-and-Under team at a tournament in the Netherlands some two decades ago, too, the injuries that led Alon to his new career as a pitching coach in the Seattle Mariners system and the day Shlomo sacrificed his body by pitching both games of a must-win double-header at the European championships.