(Reprinted by permission of the author from an article in the May, 2002 “Kol Beth Aaron.”)
“Ya gotta believe,” the immortal message of Tug McGraw, takes on new significance with the official start of this baseball season. At this point in time we can dream of another subway series. This level of belief goes to show the deep connection between Torah and the American pastime. Of course everyone knows that the Chumash opens with “in the big inning”…and that the first letter is a bayz (base). The terms “bal” and “bat” are also common expressions. Where else in the world can one offer a sacrifice in public? The central place in the game, as it is in our lives is home (bayis), as in home plate or home run. There are many other parallels that clearly point to a divine and secret code in the evolution of this game.
- • Three strikes, four balls—the three ovot and four emahot.
- • Four bases—the “arbah kanfos,” constantly remind us of the Exodus.
- • The seventh-inning stretch—in remembrance of the seventh day, a day of rest.
- • The other eight innings represent the six major biblical and two post-biblical holidays in our calendar.
- • A minimum number of three batters—the number of persons called to the Torah on Monday, Thursday and Shabbos mincha.
- • A team on the field of nine players plus a manager, making 10—a minyan.
- • The World Series is played in the same season as our high holy days, quite often around the Succos holiday, which is nine days, corresponding again to nine innings. Before expansion the Series often landed on or about Yom Kippur. It has traditionally been played during a month of judgement and repentance.
- • Have you ever considered the deeper meaning of “the house that Ruth built”?
- • Reggie Jackson, Mr. October, literally translated as “Mar Cheshvan” (suggested by Eddie Steinberg).
- • The direction in which runners circle the bases echoes the precedent-setting movements by which the Kohen Gadol circled the altar in the temple. The stadium is a temple of “ s(p)orts.”
Bamidbar, 35:17 “Or if with a hand sized stone by which one could die did he strike him (out) and he died, he is a killer” (translation in the Stone Soncino Chumash). Instead of a killer, maybe, he’s a pitcher.
Where else in human endeavor is success judged by a 30 percent (.300 batting average) ratio or where perfection (a perfect game) is a rare thing. Our faith while striving toward perfection admits to the fallibility of man. Baseball is the only major sport not limited by the clock as an eternal remembrance of the times of our lives. Batter up, play ball!
By Gary Moses
