Ryan Braun this season accomplished something that Sandy Koufax, Hank Greenberg, or any other Jewish Hall of Famer never did: He was named Rookie of the Year.

Braun, the slugging third baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers, picked up the award Monday in the National League. In the voting by the Baseball Writers of America, Braun edged Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, 128-126.

"To show you how good Ryan was, in any other year Troy Tulowitzki would have won hands down," Brewers general manager Doug Melvin told The Associated Press.

As the baseball season heads into the home stretch and the High Holy Days approach, Ryan Braun is supplying a double dose of suspense: Will the Milwaukee Brewers’ slugging third baseman become the first Jewish player to be named Rookie of the Year in either league? And does he plan to take a day off on Yom Kippur in the tradition of Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax, and Shawn Green?

Braun, 25, has made an impact since his debut at the end of May. The California native made history in July by becoming the first player to be named the National League’s Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month.

PETACH TIKVAH – In an atmosphere that was both ceremonial and heimesh, pro baseball made its debut in Israel.

The visiting Modi’in Miracle defeated the Petach Tikvah Pioneers, 9-1, in Sunday’s opening game of the Israel Baseball League’s inaugural season.

Lou Limmer, part of a little-known bit of Jewish baseball trivia, died April 1 at age 82 in Boca Raton, Fla.

The Philadelphia A’s first-baseman appeared in a total of 209 games in 1951 and 1954, batting .202 with 19 homers, 62 RBIs, and three stolen bases.

The opening day of baseball season coincides with the first night of Passover this year. Steve Pittleman

This certainly won’t be the first time that opening day of baseball season coincides with the first Passover seder, but the confluence seems particularly appropriate this year.

Why is this spring training different from all other spring trainings?

It turns out that this winter saw the greatest exodus of Jewish Major Leaguers, or JMLs, in the history of the sport. Six of last year’s record-tying 13 JMLs will begin the 2007 season with new franchises, and three are among the top 10 Jewish players in career rankings.

One of the ways rabid baseball fans get through end-of-the-season withdrawal pains is by immersing themselves in player stats and award announcements. It’s time to do the same for Jewish players.

There were 13 Jewish major leaguers this season: six pitchers, two catchers, three outfielders and two infielders. None of them, alas, came close to making a serious run at any major award, but we’ll remedy that situation by handing out awards for the top Jewish players. First the stats.

Starting pitchers: