Slugger with Jewish roots gets NL MVP nod

For the first time since Sandy Koufax, a ballplayer with Jewish roots has secured the National League’s Most Valuable Player title. Ryan Braun, 28, the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder, was awarded the title for helping the Milwaukee Brewers win their first division title in 30 years.

A native of suburban Los Angeles, Braun is the son of a Catholic mother and his father was born in Tel Aviv to a family of Holocaust survivors. The Adrien Brody look-alike was dubbed by the press as the “Hebrew Hammer” of baseball.

At his induction last year into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, Braun spokes to USA Today on his Jewish roots. “It’s a touchy subject… I don’t want groups claiming me now because I’m having success. But I do consider myself definitely Jewish. And I’m extremely proud to be a role model for young Jewish kids.”

Braun’s contract with the Brewers extends at least into 2020, guaranteeing his place in the team’s history. “Ryan Braun is going to have a statue outside Miller Park someday,” said Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio. Ironically, Koufax’s actual last name was also Braun, but there is no relation. Koufax professionally used his stepfather’s last name.