“Yeah Team!” Basketball score book, JEA, 1930-1933

In the Gymnasium section, there is a basketball score book used by the Jewish Educational Alliance, Baltimore, in the early 1930s.  The book is closed in the exhibit, so here’s a quick peek at a few of the details you can’t see while it’s on display.

The JEA Olympic Club’s basketball score book, 1930-1933. “Reach Official Basket Ball Score Book For Men and Women. Published by A.J. Reach, Wright & Ditson, Inc., New York - Philadelphia - Chicago - San Francisco. Copyright 1926.”  Gift of Jack Chandler.  JMM1992.231.340
The JEA Olympic Club’s basketball score book, 1930-1933. “Reach Official Basket Ball Score Book For Men and Women. Published by A.J. Reach, Wright & Ditson, Inc., New York – Philadelphia – Chicago – San Francisco. Copyright 1926.”  Gift of Jack Chandler.  JMM1992.231.340

The Jewish Educational Alliance of Baltimore was founded in 1909, with the merger of two Jewish youth organizations, the Daughters of Israel and the Maccabeans.  Though it was home to a wide variety of activities and classes, sports and athletics were some of the more popular choices for the kids who belonged. The JEA fielded a large number of teams or “clubs,” each with their own name like Pioneer, Oriole, Excelsior, Premiere, and many more.  As Dr. Philip Block noted in his brief memoir, “The JEA Story – 1910-Present” (1991), by the 1920s “more clubs were organized daily, more members sought admittance and basketball became king!! It filled our every spare moment and desire for sports. . . . basketball dominated our lives and how the JEA boys dominated basketball!!” Dr. Block describes how the basketball prowess of two JEA members in particular helped “break the unwritten barrier” at Baltimore City public high schools, where Jewish students had never made the team.  JEA alumni were proud of their achievements, and many of the clubs stayed active long past their years of youth sports.

This scorebook provides us with a glimpse at one particular team, the Olympic Club, and its activities in the early 1930s. Let’s take a look…

inside cover

The inside cover was designated for some historical notes and inspirational mottos, including:

“Yeah team! OLYMPICS

Wolf High Point Scorer of Orion game

Posner high points scorer

Motto: ‘Give until it hurts’

Gurwitz and Posner High Point Scorer

Don Nasdor Manager

New Manager Reds Goldstein

Mgr ‘Greasy’ Gurwitz – 1932-33”

…plus a gold City of Baltimore seal.

Added to the publisher’s title page is a hand-wrtten, team-specific title: "Score-Book of Olympics 1930-31  1931-32   1932-33 OLYMPICS” plus a quick note, “Posner made 571”
Added to the publisher’s title page is a hand-wrtten, team-specific title: “Score-Book of Olympics 1930-31  1931-32   1932-33 OLYMPICS” plus a quick note, “Posner made 571”
On December 26, 1932, at the JEA, the Olympics played the Easterwood Champs; the Olympics won, 30 to 26.
On December 26, 1932, at the JEA, the Olympics played the Easterwood Champs; the Olympics won, 30 to 26.
The inside back cover looks like it served as an autograph page, of sorts; signatures include Sidney Goldstein, Melvin Pierce, Martin Hyman, Charles Wolf, Nathan Goldberg, Sidney Goldstein, Donald Nasdor, Bernard Franklin, Lester Posner, Nathan  Goldstein, and Morris Hightowitz.
The inside back cover looks like it served as an autograph page, of sorts; signatures include Sidney Goldstein, Melvin Pierce, Martin Hyman, Charles Wolf, Nathan Goldberg, Sidney Goldstein, Donald Nasdor, Bernard Franklin, Lester Posner, Nathan  Goldstein, and Morris Hightowitz.
The Olympic Club, 1933.  Unfortunately, none of the players are identified; though we know some of their names thanks to this scorebook, we don’t know who’s who.  If anyone recognizes a player or two, let us know! Gift of Jack Chandler. JMM1992.231.11
The Olympic Club, 1933.  Unfortunately, none of the players are identified; though we know some of their names thanks to this scorebook, we don’t know who’s who.  If anyone recognizes a player or two, let us know! Gift of Jack Chandler. JMM1992.231.11

 

Post by Collections Manager Joanna Church.