It was the first (and last) season of professional baseball in Israel. Aaron Pribble, twenty-seven, had been out of Minor League Baseball for three years while he pursued a career in education when, at his coach’s suggestion, he tried out for the newly formed Israel Baseball League (IBL). Of Jewish descent (not a requirement, but definitely a plus) and former pro, Pribble was the ideal candidate for the upstart league. In many ways the league resembled the ultimate baseball fantasy camp with its unforgettable cast of characters: the DJ/street artist third baseman from the Bronx, the wildman catcher from Australia, the journeymen Dominicans who were much older than they claimed to be, and, of course, seventy-one-year-old Sandy Koufax, drafted in a symbolic gesture as the last player. After falling in love with a beautiful Yemenite Jew, enduring an alleged terrorist attack on opening day, witnessing a career-ending brain injury caused by improper field equipment, participating in a strike, and venturing into the West Bank despite being strongly advised against it, Pribble must decide whether to forgo a teaching career in order to become the first player from the IBL to sign a pro contract in the United States. His is a story of coming of age spiritually and athletically in one short season in the throes of romance, Middle Eastern politics, and the dreams of America’s pastime far, far afield from home.
Learn about Holy Land Hardball, a documentary on the Israel Baseball League.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Aaron Pribble played collegiate baseball at the University of Hawaii, then professionally in the Western and Central Baseball Leagues, in France, and in the Israel Baseball League. He holds a master’s degree in political science and teaches at Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, California. Pribble lives in San Francisco.
"Mr. Pribble makes his adventure into a fascinating tale, full of both difficulties and thrills. "Pitching in the Promised Land "makes good reading."--Dorothy Seymour Mills, "NY Journal of Books"--Dorothy Seymour Mills"NY Journal of Books" (04/01/2011)
"With a writing style that is approachable, warm, effective, and engrossing, "Pitching in the Promised Land "will likely appeal to both Jewish seamheads and casual fans."--Joshua Platt, "Jewish Book World"--Joshua Platt "Jewish Book World "
"Aaron Pribble, a former professional baseball player turned schoolteacher, who starred for the Tel Aviv Lightning in the Israel Baseball League's only season, provides readers with a front row seat and his own unvarnished take on the upstart league."--Jonathan Papernick, "Jewish Daily Forward"--Jonathan Papernick"Jewish Daily Forward" (03/30/2011)
"This is, of course, much more than a baseball story. Pribble relates his romantic involvement, developing bonds of comradeship, and his efforts to consider his own Jewish identity within an Israeli society still striving to resolve its own contradictions. Pribble consistently hits the right notes, conveying his experiences with humor, irony, and a sense of novelty."--Jay Freeman, "Booklist"--Jay Freeman"Booklist" (05/01/2011)
"Pribble has managed to bring together intriguing autobiographical information with a lively record of the crack at exporting American baseball to Israel. His enjoyable book is an eminently successful merger of these two elements."--Morton I./i>--Morton I. Teicher"National Jewish Post & Opinion" (05/18/2011)
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Shipping:
US$ 6.00
Within U.S.A.
Shipping:
US$ 3.99
Within U.S.A.
Seller: Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Very Good - Crisp, clean, unread book with some shelfwear/edgewear, may have a remainder mark - NICE Standard-sized. Seller Inventory # M0803271565Z2
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Harrisburg, PA, U.S.A.
Paperback. Condition: Good. Good - Bumped and creased book with tears to the extremities, but not affecting the text block, may have remainder mark or previous owner's name - GOOD PAPERBACK Standard-sized. Seller Inventory # M0803271565Z3
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: SecondSale, Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00031612741
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: GF Books, Inc., Hawthorne, CA, U.S.A.
Condition: Very Good. Book is in Used-VeryGood condition. Pages and cover are clean and intact. Used items may not include supplementary materials such as CDs or access codes. May show signs of minor shelf wear and contain very limited notes and highlighting. 0.75. Seller Inventory # 0803271565-2-3
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Condition: Good. Good condition. This is the average used book, that has all pages or leaves present, but may include writing. Book may be ex-library with stamps and stickers. 0.75. Seller Inventory # 353-0803271565-gdd
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Books Unplugged, Amherst, NY, U.S.A.
Condition: Fair. Buy with confidence! Book is in acceptable condition with wear to the pages, binding, and some marks within 0.75. Seller Inventory # bk0803271565xvz189zvxacp
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Lucky's Textbooks, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
Condition: New. Seller Inventory # ABLIING23Feb2416190198042
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Books Unplugged, Amherst, NY, U.S.A.
Condition: New. Buy with confidence! Book is in new, never-used condition 0.75. Seller Inventory # bk0803271565xvz189zvxnew
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: Book Deals, Tucson, AZ, U.S.A.
Condition: New. New! This book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published 0.75. Seller Inventory # 353-0803271565-new
Quantity: 1 available
Seller: booksXpress, Bayonne, NJ, U.S.A.
Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780803271562
Quantity: 3 available