IBL taps Israeli for final manager slot
Berger named president, COO

Ami Baran was named manager of the Netanya Tigers.
Photo courtesy Israel Baseball League

by Ron Kaplan
NJJN Staff Writer
05.31.07

The Israel Baseball League has selected Ami Baran to fill its last managerial vacancy. Baran, an Israeli citizen and well-known national sports figure, will crack the whip over the Netanya Tigers.

Four former major leaguers — Ken Holtzman, Art Shamsky, Ron Blomberg, and Steve Hertz — who enjoyed a "cup of coffee" with the Houston Colt 45s (now the Astros) in 1965 — and Shaun Smith, an Australian with a strong reputation in international competition, round out the managerial field.

Baran, who was born in Chicago but moved to Israel by himself at the age of 14, has long been prominent in the Israeli sports scene. He is head coach of the men's and women's national softball teams, former head coach of the national track and field teams, and a longtime Israeli champion and record-holder in the javelin.

A graduate of the Wingate Institute, Israel's National Center for Physical Education and Sport, Baran helped develop the coaching certification course for baseball in Israel.

He was also appointed director of the Dan Duquette Baseball and Softball Academy in Israel. Under his stewardship, the academy will run baseball camps in Israel starting this summer, coordinate winter tournaments for international players, and oversee the IBL player development program in Israel.

Baran is a major in the Israeli police force, holding the positions of assistant director of investigations and head of the High Crimes Investigations Unit. He has taken a leave of absence from the force, effective June 1.

"Ami Baran is a leader of men," said Martin Berger, who was named IBL president and chief operating officer on May 22. "He has coached at the highest levels of international competition, has an intimate knowledge of baseball, and is particularly noted for his expertise in sports physical training."

Berger a 40-year-old trial attorney in Florida, was formerly IBL director of player personnel.