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Al Rosen

Orlando Cepeda, Al Rosen Go To Bat For ‘Havana Curveball’

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Young Micah and his Grandpa: Two Heroes to
know and love in “Havana Curveball”

Back in 2012, I found one great baseball story. As you know, this blog is about the stories behind the signatures.


And Al Rosen offered his signatures for the cause, a dozen signed baseballs to help fund an amazing documentary idea.

That vision is now reality! In August, Havana Curveball (once entitled ‘Got Balz?’) makes its world premiere.

Filmmaker Marcia Jarmel had this to share:

“We are just now getting the word out to players, but just last week we received a wonderful endorsement from Orlando Cepeda: 

“Great film, real baseball, tremendously authentic!” 
— Orlando Cepeda, San Francisco Giants, Hall of Fame 1999

I know that Dusty Baker has a copy and is planning to watch with his son, but no word yet. We also have had great support from Al Rosen, who signed a dozen balls for us during our crowdfunding campaign.

As for your second question, funny you should ask. We are inviting people, schools, organizations, public libraries, baseball teams, etc. to bring the film to their own community. Anyone interested, can reach us at: distribution@patchworksfilms.net. We have upcoming screenings in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., Tallahassee, Orlando, Seattle, and Frankfurt on the books right now.  

People can also find out when the film is coming to their area by joining our Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/havanacurveball or our Twitter stream at: https://twitter.com/HavanaCurveball. The trailer and some other short videos are also to be found at: www.havanacurveball.info.”

If you know a synagogue, a college campus, local film festival or independent cinema, please, share this news with them. This uplifting documentary belongs on every movie screen. If you believe in baseball and the power the game has to unite people, this is the story for you. Havana Curveball is worth seeing…and sharing.



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Al Rosen Autographs For A Cause

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Rosen has retained that
crisp, tight autograph!

Here’s a bit of “breaking news” from filmmaker Marcia Jarmel at PatchWorks Films.

“I saw your blogpost and thought you might be interested in our current film project (Got Balz?), which tells a different kind of baseball story: http://kck.st/gotbalz. I thought some of your readers might be interested in the Hebrew Hammer “Al Rosen” signed baseballs we are giving to the project’s backers.”

There’s much more than Rosen baseballs available. Jarmel and partner Ken Schneider have great autographs and other baseball memorabilia available to those who’ll help make their film into a reality.

Check out their www.kickstarter.org page. Their funding deadline is Wednesday. When I wrote this, they were less than $800 away from reaching their goal (with just 23 hours remaining). A documentary film about a 13-year-old American wanting to help Cubans get needed baseball equipment? I’m in! I hope you might be, too. Every dollar matters.

Al Rosen: The First Ryan Braun

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Is Ryan Braun paying Al Rosen nickname rent?

Long before Braun was known as “The Hebrew Hammer,” the 1950s Cleveland Indians slugger owned the moniker.

Don’t ask Rosen. He’s proud of his Jewish heritage. He just doesn’t know how the nickname appeared.

Did it come from a Cleveland sportswriter? From a teammate? Or, did he earn the title during his minor league days?

“I have no idea,” he wrote.

The four-time All-Star, who claimed two league home run titles and the 1953 American League MVP award, had to wait his turn for the third base job. Kenny Keltner held the post through 1949.

How did Rosen explain his breakout season of 1950, which featured 37 homers and 116 RBI? What made the difference?

“Having a chance to play regularly,” he explained. “Check minor league stats.”

Explaining the nickname will have to come later. I hope to make “Flip” (Rosen’s first nickname earned as a teen) do just that.

Theories, anyone?