Jewish athletes who could not participate in a preliminary tryout for the U.S. Olympic Baseball Team because it was scheduled on September 17, Yom Kippur, will still be given an opportunity to qualify for the team, according to the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.
Leslie Shedlin, assistant director of ADL’s Legal Affairs Department, said the agency protested the scheduling of the tryout on the holiest day in the Jewish religion with the U.S. Baseball Federation.
According to Ms. Shedlin, a spokesman for the Federation assured ADL that those who could not attend the try out will not be disqualified. They are advised to contact Dick Case, executive director of the Federation, stating the reason for missing the tryout and providing statistics and background on their careers and the names of coaches, scouts or other persons familiar with their play.
The Federations will then evaluate the baseball players’ records and make inquiries with those persons familiar with the applicants to determine their eligibility. The Federation’s address is 4 Gregory Drive, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690. The phone number is 609-586-2381.
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