Former Yankee Leads "Bet Shemesh Blue Sox," to Win First Israel Baseball League Championship
"...I won in the Holy Land. What more can anyone want?"
(Israel)—Ron Bloomberg, who was the very first designated hitter for the New York Yankees years ago, recently completed another memorable first. As manager of the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox, he led his team to win their first championship. In fact, it is the very first baseball championship—ever—in Israel.
Perhaps influenced by the introduction of the World Baseball Classic last year, which brought teams together from all corners of the earth to play for a championship, Israel recently formed its own set of six teams known as; the Israel Baseball League.
With Bloomberg's tutelage, the Blue Sox finished first out of the six with a record of 29-12, and went on to win the championship. The Blue Sox roster included players from New York, California, the Dominican Republic and Australia, as well as the required three Israeli natives.
According to the article on the YES Network website, Bloomberg and his players lived in a kibbutz during the season, honoring his Jewish roots. To honor his Yankee roots, his team was dressed in Yankee pinstripes.
"The people really supported us and took to the game. There are a lot of Jews from New York and Connecticut living over there and they came out to our games, but the natives also came," said Bloomberg, in the YES Network article.
He added, "Can you believe it? I was manager of the year, I won the championship and I won in the Holy Land. What more can anyone want?"
