Schechter alum dreams of fields in Israel

by Ron Kaplan
NJJN Staff Writer

In all modesty, Adam Goldman is fairly confident he’ll be selected to play in the new Israel Baseball League, scheduled to open its first season next summer.

The league held its inaugural tryouts at the Duquette Sports Academy in Hinsdale, Mass., Aug. 21-22. Goldman, of West Caldwell, had planned to try out together with his best friend, who begged off, citing other commitments. He was on the verge of not going himself, but credited his older brother, Matt, with encouraging him not to give up. “He motivated me throughout this,” said Goldman.

The Goldman family, including parents Robin and Mark, are members of Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex in Caldwell.

The brothers drove up to Massachusetts Aug. 20, and Goldman was the first one to register the next morning.

A shortstop/pitcher, Goldman said he went in not knowing what to expect but grew confident during the course of the proceedings.

The young man had not played competitively since he was a member of the varsity team at Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union in West Orange as well as Amateur Athletic Union teams in 2003. That gave him an advantage over a number of hopefuls trying out for the league who either hadn’t touched a bat since Little League 20 years ago or had spent their weekends in slow-pitch softball leagues.

After graduating Schechter, Goldman took part in a baseball showcase, a sports audition that draws scouts from colleges and professional teams. He received “eight or nine offers from Division III schools,” but realizing his five-foot-ten frame would get him only so far, he decided to attend the University of Maryland, where he is now a senior.

“I plan on going to law school after this year,” he said, “but I think playing in this league would be an incredible opportunity,” since the season takes place during the summer.

“I couldn’t have done any better,” he said of his tryout, which included fielding balls at shortstop — one of his regular positions — hitting balls out of a machine, and taking a turn on the mound, where he struck out two out of the three batters he faced. “I had been out of baseball for about four years, so it felt good to be back on the mound again and face live batters. I threw a lot better than I expected. The pitching coach said I was throwing about 85-86.”

During the plentiful down time, Goldman chatted with the other Israel league hopefuls. “That was a great part of the day…to find out their stories, to find out where they’re coming from. A lot of different people, a lot of different ages.”

There was little buzz about the conflict in the Middle East, he said. The consensus held that “going to Israel right now would be sending a message to the terrorists.” Goldman has been to Israel twice, most recently in 2003 on a March of the Living tour, which brings young Jews from all over the world to Poland on Holocaust Memorial Day to march from Auschwitz to Birkenau, followed by a week in Israel to observe Israel Memorial Day and Israel Independence Day. Goldman described that trip as “an unbelievable experience.”

“The situation, right now, is bad, but I’ve never been one to not go somewhere or not do something because of the situation.” His fellow aspirants, he said, were generally of one mind, echoing his feelings: “I love baseball and it’s a chance to go to Israel and play. That’s the bottom line. That’s what we’re going to do.”

As much camaraderie as there was, the players were still vying for limited spots in the league. “To be honest, I thought I was one of the better players. I would be a little disappointed if I didn’t get called back because I think I showed them enough to deserve [it].”

Players selected by the IBL leadership — including president Larry Baras; commissioner Daniel C. Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel; and Dan Duquette, whose long career in baseball has included front office positions with the Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Montreal Expos — will be invited back for another look-see in the spring.

“Originally, it was a shot in the dark and I didn’t know what to expect,” said Goldman. “I went up there and saw the competition I was up against, and I think I have a good shot to make it. I would absolutely go if I was selected.”