Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Friday, March 10, 2023

The legend of Shlomo Lipetz, WBC Team Israel’s 44-year-old ‘mythical figure’

In October 2001, a hairy Israeli man in skinny jeans and a skin-tight nightclub shirt strolled onto the baseball field at San Diego Mesa Junior College. Thousands of miles from home and just three weeks removed from mandatory military service, the 22-year-old freshman approached one of the coaches and introduced himself.

“Hi, I’m Shlomo,” he proclaimed in broken English. “I want to play baseball.”

Twenty-two years later, the 6-foot-4 sidearming Israeli soft-tosser is the second-oldest player in the 2023 World Baseball Classic. When Team Israel takes on the Dominican Republic in a week’s time, Lipetz will share a stadium, if not a field, with the likes of Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Rafael Devers.

Here is another seemingly contradictory fact: The 27⅔ innings he threw for the Netanya Tigers of the short-lived Israel Baseball League way back in 2007 are the totality of his official professional baseball experience.

Armed with a mid-70s fastball, a vagabond’s passport, a mullet and, sometimes, a gold tooth, Lipetz is Kenny Powers, Forrest Gump, Paul Bunyan, Batman and Walter Johnson rolled into one. He has pitched around the globe — from Tel Aviv to Vienna, Belgrade to Seoul, Tecate to Blagoevgrad, San Diego to Turin, from the Tokyo Olympics to Central Park — all the while carrying the Israeli baseball community on his shoulders

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: March 10, 2023 at 10:07 PM | 3 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: israel, wbc

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc Posted: March 11, 2023 at 09:17 AM (#6120142)
Teams I'm rooting for in the WBC: USA (duh), Canada (for my Dad), Italy (for my wife), GB (for my Mom), Israel (my niece is Jewish).

Teams I'm rooting against: China, Cuba (enuf said).
   2. bestergonomicgamingchair.com Posted: March 11, 2023 at 06:32 PM (#6120202)
[edit] NVRM
   3. kirstie819 Posted: March 20, 2023 at 10:36 PM (#6120871)
For babies and toddlers, a convertible car seat is the best option. This type of seat can be adjusted from rear-facing to forward-facing, or even used as a booster seat for older children. It’s important to make sure the convertible seat you choose fits your child properly, so it’s essential to read the instructions and measure your child before you purchase. CarSeatGuides

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

 

<< Back to main

BBTF Partner

Dynasty League Baseball

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
Marc Sully's not booin'. He's Youkin'.
for his generous support.

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogAs Padres’ season spirals, questions emerge about culture, cohesion and chemistry
(36 - 11:40pm, Sep 21)
Last: Howie Menckel

NewsblogQualifying Offer Value To Land Around $20.5MM
(4 - 10:34pm, Sep 21)
Last: The Duke

NewsblogOmnichatter for September 2023
(482 - 10:31pm, Sep 21)
Last: Howie Menckel

NewsblogMLB playoffs 2023: Orioles clinch postseason berth
(11 - 10:30pm, Sep 21)
Last: Bote Man

NewsblogOakland vs. the A's: The inside story of how it all went south (to Las Vegas)
(11 - 9:32pm, Sep 21)
Last: The Duke

NewsblogOT: Wrestling Thread November 2014
(2970 - 9:10pm, Sep 21)
Last: tell me when i'm telling 57i66135

NewsblogThe Athletic: How the $445 million Mets crashed and burned
(12 - 9:03pm, Sep 21)
Last: Jay Seaver

NewsblogOT Soccer - World Cup Final/European Leagues Start
(94 - 8:47pm, Sep 21)
Last: AuntBea odeurs de parfum de distance sociale

NewsblogYankees' status quo under Brian Cashman resulted in 'disaster' season, and a fresh perspective is needed
(2 - 7:25pm, Sep 21)
Last: Pat Rapper's Delight (as quoted on MLB Network)

NewsblogCarroll makes more history: 1st rookie to have 25-HR, 50-SB season
(2 - 7:03pm, Sep 21)
Last: Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc

Hall of MeritReranking First Basemen: Results
(8 - 4:22pm, Sep 21)
Last: Chris Cobb

NewsblogCan Freddie Freeman Re-Open the 3,000 Hit Club?
(48 - 3:31pm, Sep 21)
Last: NaOH

NewsblogRepublicans propose $614M in public funds for Brewers' stadium upgrades
(32 - 11:47am, Sep 21)
Last: Jobu is silent on the changeup

NewsblogThe ragtag team that saved Darryl Strawberry’s career
(4 - 8:02am, Sep 21)
Last: Steve Parris, Je t'aime

Newsblog200 WINS! Adam Wainwright caps career with long-awaited milestone
(29 - 7:36am, Sep 21)
Last: Adam Starblind

Page rendered in 0.2053 seconds
48 querie(s) executed