Reluctantly, Koufax Steps Back Into the Light for a Film About Jewish Ballplayers
The last time Koufax spoke to a national network was in 1999, when he gave an hourlong interview to ESPN for the “SportsCentury” series chapter on him. But HBO, which specializes in sports documentaries, has been turned down by Koufax several times over the past 30 years.
“Jews and Baseball” focuses on more than Koufax and Greenberg. It goes back to Barney Pelty, called the Yiddish Curver; Mose Solomon, the so-called Rabbi of Swat; and other Jewish players like Moe Berg, Al Rosen, Buddy Myer, Marv Rotblatt and Kevin Youkilis. But the 90-minute film will probably be best remembered for the extended star turn by Koufax, 44 years after his last pitch.