Israeli baseball gets star boost

Three former American Jewish Major League baseball stars will arrive in Israel to manage teams in the newly created Israeli Baseball League, the former US ambassador to Israel, Daniel Kurtzer, announced. 

Ron Blomberg, Ken Holtzman and Art Shamsky, will manage three of the six teams in the league, which will begin play on June 24. 

"A 45-game schedule will culminate in a championship, as Israelis are introduced to the professional game for the first time," a written press statement added. 

"None of the three have had managing experience before, but readily embraced the offer to be part of history, to help bring a wonderful pastime to the Israeli people, and to embrace their own heritage with this opportunity," the statement said. 

Holtzman pitched for teams such as the Cubs, Athletics, Orioles, and the Yankees, winning 174 games (US Jewish baseball legend Sandy Koufax won 165 games).  

Shamsky, 65, played for the Reds, the Mets, the Athletics and the Cubs over eight seasons, "and once hit four consecutive home runs for the Reds," the statement said. He is also authored a book on New York sports teams. 

Ron Blomberg "was the nation's number one draft pick in 1967 and spent eight seasons in the majors with the Yankees and White Sox," the statement added. He is the author of an autobiography, "Designated Hebrew." 

The Israel Baseball league will be composed of "international players of all races, religions and nationalities, with 20 players per team. Many of the players have been selected from tryout camps run by Dan Duquette, the former general manager of the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox," the statement said, adding that "the teams will be announced later this month."