Joc Pederson
LOS ANGELES — Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers last week set a new home run record for Jewish players in one World Series.
Pederson, a lefty-swinging outfielder, blasted a homer in the seventh inning of his club’s 3-1 win over the visiting Houston Astros in Game 6. The shot, to left field, was his third of the Series and moved Pederson past Hall of Famer Hank Greenberg, the Detroit Tigers’ slugger who had two homers in the 1934 Fall Classic.
Greenberg still holds the mark for most runs batted in by a Jewish player in one World Series, with seven.
Pederson hit five, as did Alex Bregman, third basemen for the Series-winning Astros, along with two home runs.
Like Pederson, Bregman made Jewish history in the World Series: On Oct. 29, in Game 5, he became the first Jewish player to win a game with a walk-off hit.
The Dodgers and Astros met in the decisive Game 7 in Los Angeles on Nov. 1, which was won by Houston.
