- Mike Epstein
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For other people named Michael Epstein, see Michael Epstein (disambiguation).
Mike Epstein First Baseman Born: April 4, 1943
The Bronx, New YorkBatted: Left Threw: Left MLB debut September 16, 1966 for the Baltimore Orioles Last MLB appearance April 28, 1974 for the California Angels Career statistics Batting average .244 Home runs 130 Runs batted in 380 Teams - Baltimore Orioles (1966–1967)
- Washington Senators (1967–1971)
- Oakland Athletics (1971–1972)
- Texas Rangers (1973)
- California Angels (1973–1974)
Career highlights and awards - World Series champion (1972)
Medal record Baseball Olympic Games Gold 1964 Tokyo Baseball Michael Peter Epstein (born April 4, 1943 in the Bronx, New York), nicknamed SuperJew, is a former Major League Baseball player for the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Senators, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, and California Angels from 1966–1974.[1][2][3]
The first baseman was noted as a strong power hitter who did not hit for a high batting average, though he walked (and was hit by pitches) so often that he finished with a respectable career .359 on base percentage.
Contents
High school
Epstein was a member of the baseball and football teams at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles.
College and Olympics
Epstein played baseball at the University of California-Berkeley. As a junior in 1963 he hit .375 and was offered a contract by the Los Angeles Dodgers, but his father insisted he finish college.
A collegiate All-American in 1964, he was a member of the first U.S. Olympic team that year, and helped them win the gold medal.
Minor leagues
In 1965, Epstein began his professional baseball career in the Baltimore Orioles organization and was dubbed "Superjew" by rival manager Rocky Bridges in the California League after Epstein led the league in batting and home runs that year. He was MVP of the California League that year for the Stockton Ports.
In 1966, playing for the Rochester Red Wings, he was then named Sporting News Minor League Player of the Year, after being also named the International League MVP (.309, 29 HR, 102 RBI).
Major leagues
He was first brought up for 6 games by the Baltimore Orioles in 1966, at the age of 23, having hit over .300 with at least 29 home runs and 100 RBI in his first two minor league seasons.
After the Orioles tried in vain to convert him to the outfield (they already had Boog Powell at first base), they demoted him to Rochester again. The outspoken Epstein refused to report, going home to California instead, and did not play again until the end of May 1967, when he was traded by the Orioles with Frank Bertaina to the Washington Senators for Pete Richert. Later that season, in first at-bat against the Orioles, Epstein hit a grand slam.
In 1968 he was 4th in the league in hbp (9).
He had arguably his best season in 1969 with the Senators, when in only 403 at bats he hit 30 home runs (9th in the American League), had 85 Runs Batted In, and hit for a respectable .278 batting average (and .347 with runners in scoring position) with an excellent .414 on base percentage and .551 slugging percentage. He was 4th in the league in hbp (10), and hit a home run every 13.4 at bats. He was 25th in voting for the American League MVP. This was also the only year in which the reconstituted Senators finished above .500.
In 1970 he was 2nd in the league in hbp (13), while hitting 20 home runs.
In May 1971 he was traded by the Senators with Darold Knowles to the Oakland Athletics for Frank Fernandez, Don Mincher, Paul Lindblad, and cash. In 1971, while hitting 18 home runs in 329 at bats, he was hit by the pitch 12 times, leading the league.
In 1972 he hit 26 home runs (3rd in the league) for the world champion Athletics. He hit a home run every 17.5 at bats (3rd in the AL), had a .490 slugging percentage (5th), a .376 on base percentage (6th), 62 walks (10th), and was hit by a pitch 11 times (2nd). He was 16th in voting for the American League MVP.
In November 1972 he was traded by the Athletics to the Texas Rangers for Horacio Pina. The A's wanted to free up the first base position for Gene Tenace, who was the star of the 1972 World Series. In May 1973 he was traded by the Rangers with Rich Hand and Rick Stelmaszek to the California Angels for Jim Spencer and Lloyd Allen. In 1973 he was 7th in the league in hbp (8).
On May 4, 1974, he was released by the Angels.
He was inducted as a member of the United States National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.[4]
Through 2010, he was sixth all-time in career home runs (behind Mike Lieberthal) among Jewish major league baseball players.[5]
After baseball
In 2007, Epstein was running a hitting school.[6]
Miscellaneous
- Owing to his ethnic and religious background, along with his power, Epstein's nickname was "Superjew."
- Epstein wore a black armband during the 1972 playoffs in memory of the 11 Israeli athletes murdered by terrorists at the Munich Olympics. Teammates Ken Holtzman and Reggie Jackson also wore the armbands. Somewhat surprisingly, A's owner Charles Finley, who usually demanded conformity from his players, gave them the OK to wear the tributary items until the season ended with the A's World Series victory.
- During his minor league days with the Rochester Red Wings, he drew the Star of David onto his glove.[7]
- Epstein had great success against Joe Niekro during his career, going 7–10 with 4 home runs and 4 walks.[8]
See also
References
- ^ The Big Book of Jewish Baseball: An Illustrated Encyclopedia & Anecdotal History. 2001. http://books.google.com/books?id=9ZzxydPInwgC&pg=PA55&dq=superjew+mike+epstein&hl=en&ei=duJJTYiGB4yt8AbyioWCDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=superjew%20mike%20epstein&f=false. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ^ High and Inside: My Life in the Front Offices of Baseball. 2007. http://books.google.com/books?id=YijlSyl2vW4C&pg=PA58&dq=superjew+mike+epstein&hl=en&ei=duJJTYiGB4yt8AbyioWCDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ^ Ellis Island to Ebbets Field: Sport and the American Jewish Experience. 1993. http://books.google.com/books?id=qjOYf1YAhaoC&pg=PA242&dq=superjew+mike+epstein&hl=en&ei=duJJTYiGB4yt8AbyioWCDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDsQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=superjew%20mike%20epstein&f=false. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
- ^ [1]
- ^ "Career Batting Leaders through 2010". Career Leaders. Jewish Major Leaguers. http://www.jewishmajorleaguers.org/. Retrieved February 10, 2011.
- ^ Lukas, Paul (April 2, 2007). "A kosher look at Judaism in baseball". ("Uni Watch", on) ESPN Sports. Archived from the original on August 1, 2010. http://www.webcitation.org/5rfkbWOO4. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
- ^ Paul Lukas (April 2, 2007). "Uni Watch: Passover edition". ESPN. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/070402&sportCat=mlb. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
- ^ "Mike Epstein vs. Pitchers". Baseball-Reference.com. http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/b-pvb.cgi?n1=epstemi01&year=1973#minPA2=10&minPA=10&n1=epstemi01&as=batter&year_game=career&orderby=BA. Retrieved January 16, 2011.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- BR Bullpen profile
- Baseball Library profile
- "A kosher look at Judaism in baseball," 4/2/07
Oakland Athletics 1972 World Series Champions 1 Dick Green | 2 Ángel Mangual | 4 Don Mincher | 5 Mike Epstein | 6 Sal Bando | 9 Reggie Jackson | 10 Dave Duncan | 11 Ted Kubiak | 12 Gonzalo Márquez | 13 Blue Moon Odom | 14 Matty Alou | 16 Tim Cullen | 19 Bert Campaneris | 20 Mike Hegan | 21 Dal Maxvill | 22 Joe Horlen | 24 Allan Lewis | 25 George Hendrick | 26 Joe Rudi | 27 Catfish Hunter | 30 Ken Holtzman | 32 Darold Knowles | 33 Dave Hamilton | 34 Rollie Fingers | 35 Vida Blue | 36 Bob Locker | 38 Gene Tenace (World Series MVP)
Manager 23 Dick Williams
Coaches: 40 Bill Posedel | 41 Jerry Adair | 43 Irv Noren | 44 Vern HoscheitNational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame A-G BaseballBrad Ausmus • Moe Berg • Ron Blomberg • Harry Danning • Thelma Eisen • Mike Epstein • Sid Gordon • Shawn Green • Hank Greenberg • Ken Holtzman • Sandy Koufax • Elliott Maddox • Saul Rogovin • Al Rosen • Art ShamskyBasketballDavid Bluthenthal • Tal Brody • Jack Garfinkel • Hy Gotkin • Leo Gottlieb • Ernie Grunfeld • Sonny Hertzberg • Art Heyman • Nat Holman • Ralph Kaplowitz • Nat Militzok • Steve Nisenson • Donna Orender • Hank Rosenstein • Dan Schayes • Dolph Schayes • Ossie Schectman • Jon Scheyer • Sid Tannenbaum • Neal Walk • Max ZaslofskyBowlingBoxingCanadian footballCanoeingCyclingDressageFencingFigure SkatingFootballHarris Barton • Hayden Epstein • Jay Fiedler • John Frank • Benny Friedman • Lennie Friedman • Sid Gillman • Marshall Goldberg • Sid Luckman • Josh Miller • Ron Mix • Ed Newman • Sage Rosenfels • Mike Rosenthal • Allie Sherman • Bob Stein • Josh Taves • Andre Tippett • Alan Veingrad • Gary WoodGolfGymnasticsH-S HandballHorseracingIce hockeyJudo/KarateLacrossePole VaultJillian SchwartzRacquetballRugbyShawn LipmanShot putSkiingCarrie SheinbergSoccerSwimmingT-W TennisTrackTriathleteWeightliftingWrestlingWriter/Broadcaster/
Columnist/Photographer/
ExecutiveMarv Albert • Mel Allen • Marty Appel • Len Berman • Linda Cohn • Howard Cosell • Marty Glickman • Roger Kahn • George Kalinsky • Bill Mazer • Shirley Povich (columnist) • Milton Richman (columnist) • Sam Rosen • Dick Schaap (columnist) • Suzyn Waldman • Warner Wolf • Paul ZimmermanOtherRay Arcel (boxing trainer)• Senda Berenson Abbott (women's basketball pioneer) • Red Auerbach (basketball coach) • Gary Bettman (NHL commissioner) • Al Blau (lacrosse official) • Ed Block (football trainer) • Larry Brown (basketball coach) • Herb Brown (basketball coach) • Norm Drucker (basketball official) • Aerial Gilbert (blind rower) • Sada Jacobson (fencing) • Seth Greenberg (basketball coach) • Gladys Heldman (womens tennis magazine founder) • Helene Hines (wheelchair marathoner) • Red Holzman (basketball coach) • Neila Jacobson (football trainer) • Fran Kalafer (volleyball coach) • Fred Lebow (NYC marathon founder) • Ryan Levinson (cyclist w/muscular dystrophy)• Marv Levy (football coach & executive) • Jerry Markbreit (football referee) • Marvin Miller (baseball player association executive) • Debbie Rademacher (soccer coach) • Abe Saperstein (basketball owner & coach) • Red Sarachek (basketball coach) • Gary Wichard (football player & sports agent)Marty Glickman Award;
Outstanding Jewish
Scholastic (College)
Athlete of the YearCharles Altchek (soccer) • Yael Averbuch (soccer) • Cliff Bayer (fencing) • Matt Bernstein • Shay Doron (basketball) • David Ettinger (football) • Jay Fiedler (football) • Loren Galler Rabinowitz (figure skating) • Rebekah Green (shot put) • Bess Greenberg (basketball) • Dustin Greenhill (gymnastics) • Dan Grunfeld (basketball) • Damion Hahn (wrestling) • Dan Helmer (gymnastics) • Anita Kaplan (basketball) • Brie Katz (volleyball) • Chad Levitt (football) • Jessica Levy • Samantha Marder (softball) • Boyd Melson (boxer) • Neil Ravitz (football) • Amy Rosson (softball) • Rebekah Rottenberg (lacrosse) • Mike Saffer (football) • Jon Scheyer (basketball) • Laine Selwyn (basketball) • Marc Siegel (ice hockey)Jules D. Mazor Award;
Outstanding Jewish
High School Scholar
Athlete of the YearAdam Balkan (baseball) • Stephanie Barnet (squash) • Ben Belmont (lacrosse) • Rachel Blume (softball) • Dannielle Diamant (basketball) • Hillary Framson (soccer) • Zachary Greenberg (basketball) • Ben Herman (swimming) • Emily Jacobson (fencing) • David Kahn (swimming) • Jesse Koller (soccer) • Jarryd Levine (soccer) • Max Levine (baseball) • Jason Liberman (basketball) • Sarah Lowenthal (gymnastics) • Adam Mahfouda (lacrosse) • Samantha Marder (softball) • Chad Prince (soccer) • Jon Scheyer (basketball) • Jodi Schlesinger (track) • Justin Simon (basketball)• Mark Wohlstadter (football) • Courtney Zale (basketball)Dick Steinberg Award;
"Good Guy" AwardAndy Bloom (shot put) • Ron Carner (executive) • Dave Cohen (football coach) • Gerald Eskanezi (columnist) • Jay Fiedler (football) • Ken Fiedler (basketball coach) • Stan Fischler (broadcasting) • Alan Freedman (executive) • Nicole Freedman (bicycling) • Margie Goldstein-Engle (horse showing) • Stan Isaacs (columnist) • James Jacobs (handball) • Steve Jacobson (columnist) • Barry Landers (broadcaster) • Nancy Moloff (wheelchair discus) • Marty Riger (basketball coach) • Arthur Richman (baseball writer & executive) • Dick Steinberg (football general manager) • Herb Turetzky (basketball) • Lisa Winston (columnist)George Young Award Ernie Accorsi (football) • Lou Carnesecca (basketball) • Preston Robert Tisch (football) • George Young (football)Categories:- 1943 births
- Living people
- Baseball players from New York
- Baltimore Orioles players
- California Angels players
- Jewish American sportspeople
- Major League Baseball first basemen
- Oakland Athletics players
- Washington Senators (1961–1971) players
- Texas Rangers players
- Jewish Major League Baseball players
- Sportspeople from the Bronx
- Fairfax High School (Los Angeles) alumni
- Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
- California Golden Bears baseball players
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