The Cyclones snapped a three-game slide on Sunday, the same day the team suited up in custom-made Hebrew uniforms as part of “Jewish Heritage Night” at Keyspan Park.
A coincidence? No way!
OK, so maybe top prospect Ike Davis wasn’t sure whether the special “Tzyklon” uniforms had anything to do with the 2–0 victory over the State College Spikes, but he said he’d just as soon keep wearing the right-to-left duds.
“We should use them every day, because we got a win in them,” said Davis after the victory.
Still, even on Jewish night, a gentile, pitcher Brad Holt, was the uber–mensch, going seven innings — his longest start of the season — and striking out 10.
When asked if that was his best outing of his life, Holt said, “It’s up there.”
Or, as we say on Jewish Heritage Night, “L’chaim!”
Josh Satin, the Cyclones’ second baseman, is actually Jewish. Good thing, too, because he got a hit and a walk, so he didn’t let down the tribe. Like Davis, he wishes he could wear the duds every night.
“They were really light and comfortable to wear,” he said. “I also liked that the Hebrew lettering spelled Cyclones rather than spell out the Hebrew translation of Cyclones.”
Satin, whose grandfather came from the New York City area, remembers his grandfather telling him stories about famous Jewish ballplayers, such as Hank Greenberg, and Brooklyn’s own Sandy Koufax.
But it was another Jewish ballplayer on the Dodgers that caught Satin’s fancy.
“When I was growing up in Southern California, one of my favorite players was Shawn Green,” said Satin.
Green, an outfielder, later played for the Mets. He even hit a homer on Rosh Hashana (and the headline would have read, “L’Shawn-a tova!” if either of the city’s tabloids had any guts — or a Jewish copy editor!).
“I once got to meet him,” added Satin. “He was really nice, and it was a real thrill.”
So how did the Cyclones follow up a night that was different from all other nights? With “Pork Rind Night.” It’s not some Jewish joke — the Cyclones and Utz snack foods honored the humble pork skin “treat” at Monday’s rubber game against the Spikes.
