'Catch Baseball Fever in the Dead of Winter'

The JCC Mid-Winter Baseball Celebration is Feb 13

WOODBRIDGE - The Jewish Center for Learning and Live Mid-Winter Baseball Celebration will offer a line-up of baseball fun to "brighten these dreary days waiting for the first pitch to be thrown" beginning at 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at the Jewish Community Center of Greater New Haven, 360 Amity Road.

At 11 a.m., enjoy the screening of “Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story (2010).”

"This remarkable documentary, directed by Peter Miller and narrated by Dustin Hoffman, celebrates the contributions of Jewish major leaguers and the special meaning that baseball has had in the lives of American Jews, according to a release.
Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax, Kevin Youkilis, Shawn Green and many other great players are featured, and interviews with non-baseball heavy hitters like filmmaker Ron Howard and players association head Marvin Miller share their insights, the release said. "These powerful personal and historical stories are interwoven with an extraordinary collection of rare archival footage and photos, enhanced by popular music of the eras."
 Admission for the film is $10 per person.

After the film, participate in a stimulating talkback session with Adam Greenberg, a former member of the Chicago Cubs. Greenberg is a New Haven native and a current member of the Bridgeport Bluefish, the release said.
"Martin Abramowitz, who is featured in the film for creating the popular Jewish baseball card series in 2003, will also be on hand. He created the card series to ensure each of the 142 Jewish Major League Baseball players in the history of the game is memorialized with a baseball card. The sixth and final set of cards was released in 2010. Sets of these collectible cards will be available for sale and viewing," the release said.
Even kids, preschoolers through age 6 can catch baseball fever as CJLL educator Saskia Swenson Moss reads "You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!" by Jonah Winter. This story, part of The PJ Library series of Jewish books for tots, will delight children from 11 a.m. – noon, the release said.
Additional activities are planned, and kosher ball-park food will be available for purchase.
The JCC is a subsidiary agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven.
For more information, visit http://www.jccnh.org/  or http://www.jewishnewhaven.org/,  or contact Rich Walter at 203- 387-2424 x300 or rwalter@jewishnewhaven.org, or Ruth Gross at x310 or rgross@jewishnewhaven.org