To generate money for the Israel Association of Baseball, Chicago Cubs first baseman Matt Mervis sells t-shirts and hats with his moniker written in Hebrew.
Mervis said on Thursday that building some fields and promoting the game there are both beautiful causes.
This season, Mervis, a highly anticipated Jewish newcomer to the Cubs, represented Team Israel in the March World Baseball Classic.
Because of his propensity for home runs, he has earned the nickname “Mash,” which some fans and merchants type out using asterisks to mimic the sitcom style with the same name from the Korean War era.
The new gear Mervis sells in conjunction with the Israeli baseball organization features his moniker, written in Hebrew, complete with asterisks, and his last name (in total, M*A*S*H Mervis).
He tweeted pictures of the pattern on shirts and caps for both men and women.
Israel has a small number of baseball fields, but baseball has not historically been a popular sport there.
However, Team Israel’s executives and many players, primarily American Jews, have recently developed a vested interest in developing the mark there.
The team’s popularity was raised by a stunning Cinderella performance at the 2017 World Baseball Classic, which enabled it to entice higher-known MLB players like Joc Pederson and Dean Kremer.
Former Jewish MLB All-Star Ian Kinsler, the team’s most recent manager, stated to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency last year that he wanted to increase the “buzz” surrounding baseball in Israel.
Before emigrating to the United States, Mervis’ grandmother resided in the Israeli city of Givatayim, near Tel Aviv.
He reflected on his time with Team Israel, saying, “I learned a lot. I just chatted with everyone and learned more about Israeli culture, daily living, and what my grandma experienced as a child.
Mervis, 25, is 25 games into his rookie campaign in the major leagues and is hitting just.165 with three home runs.
Anthony Rizzo, the adored first baseman for the Cubs who played for the team from 2012 to 2021 and made the out that sealed the team’s first World Series victory in 108 years, leaves large shoes for him to fill.
Mervis now goes by another moniker, this one Jewish, thanks to Rizzo’s legacy: “Bris-zo,” according to at least one writer.
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