The Little Leaguer Who Rested

Seventy-two hundred baseball fans at the U.S. Championships of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, squirm on the edge of their seats as twilight fades and shadows lengthen on the field. Millions more watch the game on television, nervously eyeing the countdown clock in the corner of their screens as it ticks away the minutes and seconds until darkness. It’s as if the entire sports world has turned to watch the sun complete its journey across the sky. You see, the countdown clock ticks away the minutes until Shabbat ends. That’s when Micah Golshirazian, star center fielder and third baseman for the Jesse Burkett All-Stars of Worcester, Massachusetts, will enter the game; and not a minute before.

Micah has sat in the dugout since his teammate Keith hurled the first pitch, because Shabbat is more important to him than the championship game. But now, as the sky darkens, his coaches, Chris Doyle and Tom Daly, pace the dugout. They nervously eye the scoreboard and check the path of the setting sun. It’s a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fourth inning.

“When does Shabbat end?” Doyle calls out to Micah’s parents in the stands.

“8:43.”

Not a minute too soon, he thinks.

Micah’s dedication to Jewish tradition has been compared to Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax’s decision to refuse to pitch the opening game of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur. Micah, however, doesn’t let his newfound celebrity go to his head. “I didn’t think it was anything special,” he says matter-of-factly, “because observing Shabbat is how I grew up.” The Golshirazians cherish Shabbat as a day to spend with family rather than teammates, a day of rest rather than sports. In fact, with his hectic schedule, Micah welcomes Shabbat “for resting, prayer, and spending time with my family.”

At 8:43 p.m., Shabbat ends, and Micah, who the team trainer says can “run like the wind,” races to third base as a pinch runner. At the crack of the bat, he sprints toward home plate and scores the winning run. The Jesse Burkett All-Stars come away with a victory and a deeper respect for their Jewish teammate. The fans come away with memories of an exciting game and a renewed appreciation for religious diversity. Micah comes away with a hero’s welcome and a lingering taste of Shabbat.