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“The Negel Vassers?” Welcome to the Crown Heights Softball League

While they may not be as well-known as the Yankees, Crown Heights has four of its own home-grown softball teams comprised of young men with an enormous store of energy, a great sense of fun, and a real aversion to babysitting.

The Crown Heights Softball League was founded in 2005 by Zevi Steinhauser of Union Street and Danny Cole, Kingston Avenue. After four years of playing on a team representing Crown Heights in the Kings County Softball League (sponsored by Gershon Eichorn, Spotlight Design) they got permits to rent a field for their own private games and the two teams (11 players each) played each other every week. Today the league boasts four full-size teams: the Kings, Kloppers, Red Heifers, and Skullcaps.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Every Sunday morning from nine to one and on Tuesday evenings from eight to ten, under the strong beams of the Troy Avenue and Bergen Street lights, 45 Lubavitch men, ranging in age from 24 to 35, hold a softball game. The games resemble everything you have seen in the stadiums – bleachers for adoring fans, snazzy orange, red, green and black uniforms, and beards.

The Red Heifer, in the (you got it) red uniforms are in first place with a six-and-two record, second place are the Kings (orange) with a five-and-three record. The Skullcaps (those are the ones in the ominous black), are in third place – three-and-four, and the Kloppers, in the green are in fourth place with a one-and-six record.

In the beginning of the season the following sponsored the four teams in the league: Sholom Laine and Zev Cadaner, of the PrintHouse donated the bright orange Kings’ uniforms (get your sunglasses), Mendy Gansburg from Landmark Funding Group is the Red Heifers’ sponsor, Shloime Gutleizer of Apple Drugs sponsored the Kloppers, and J.J. Katz of Height Properties sponsored the Skullcaps. The caps (arrival pending) were co-sponsored by Mendy Kalmanson of www.elitelogowear.com.

The league is proud of their success. Zevi relates that they have been challenged to play against other teams from Bedford Stuyvesant. They are avid watchers of the Crown Heights games, they cheer, they clap, and occasionally throw old beer bottles.

There is no real underlying of deep reason that the teams are expanding and that the games continue to rock the park; Zevi says, “We just want to play ball!”

You can visit the official Crown Height Softball League website: www.chsoftball.com
To get in touch with a league manager or to be a sponsor, send an email to chsoftball@gmail.com
The league is still searching for sponsors for the umpires.

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68 Comments

  • moe

    kook vo m’halt m’iz ozoy fargrebt in olom hazeh. moshiach is coming!

  • Yankees Fan

    Very refreshing! Wonderful to see bochurim getting a little bit of healthy entertainment – ball going in one direction and tzitzis flaying in the other. I think a real kiddush Hashem!

  • ??

    Is there security while they are playing at night in Bed Sty?

    Also, what of the empty beer bottles being thrown at them? In anger? Someone trying to hurt them?

  • not from around here.....

    This is wonderful to see. It is good exercise
    mentally and physically.

  • Shmuli

    looks great.

    and with those tzitsis swinging like that [in the third to last picture] even the Rebbe must be proud.

  • letting off steam

    Let off some steam in a healthy, kosher way. I support you guys, as long as you always remember that Yiddishkeit comes first and that all hobbies need to fit into a Torah way of life. Hope you all have lots of home runs.

  • wondering

    are baal habatim playing baseball with each other? ..its not the most chassidish way to spend ones time…

  • Mosheh

    Wondeful!!! Im 50yrs. If I played baseball when I was 20-30 I would be healthy today. its a mitzvah to be in shape so to the first guy whom made the comment lets see how healthy you will be at my age.

  • ch-er

    those are cute t-shirts. let’s see, one apple drugs and on the print house…hm, what are the other ones?!!! very cute!

  • Kloppers fan

    Let’s see some pics of the Tuesday night/ Sunday morning players.

  • chassidesher yungerman

    wondering wrote:
    are baal habatim playing baseball with each other? ..its not the most chassidish way to spend ones time…
    hey b.t. from the 70s its fine!!

  • Seymour

    " hobbies need to fit into a -Torah way- of life"

    WHATS ARE YOU A SNAG GO BACK TO LAKEWOOD

  • baseball lover

    kol hakovod – ignore the bored unfit unhealthy critisizers of crown h. remember every person has a job in this world and their job is to critisize! if you give the address, i’ll be the first to bring my kids to the bleachers, i’d rather have them cheer you guys than the yankees any day!

  • DISSAPOINTED

    YOU GUYS ARE DOIN A HORRIBLE JOB WAT IS THIS UR EMBARRASSING THE REBBES SHCUNAH OF KAN SIVA HASHEM ITS A SHAME THAT THIS COULD EVEN GO ON HERE AND THE RABBANIM DONT STOP IT WE ARE THE REBBES CHASSIDIM SHOULD WE BE COMPETING AGAINST EACH OTHER IM MAMESH HORRIFIED THAT THIS COULD BE GOING ON YOU GUYS SHOULD BE SHTAIGING IN KOLEL SOMETHING HAS GOT TO BE DONE

  • chaya

    outraged, one doesn’t negate the other. playing softball is not a 24hr occupation- it’s a hobby!
    and it’s great cuz the guys use their energy positively and are refreshed and healthy, which- surprise- helps concentrate on the torah study!
    but i don’t get it. why softball? basketball rocks!

  • Great!!!

    Whats your problem???? Do you spend all your time learning??? Every second of the day????
    Its twice a week!!!
    I think its great!

  • Fun fit in CH

    Hey, way to go!!!!! True Kiddush Hashem and Kiddush Lubavitch. So all you people with negative comments – the Torah says to watch for your health and to stay fit so this is a good way to do so (combine fun with fit – though that was probabaly not your idea in the first place). Finally there is room for some sport in CH.

  • In the Rebbe-s Shchunah?!?!

    What are you doing spending your time playing baseball? You should be learning!!! Do you actually think that the Rebbe would agree to your time doing nothing in place of learning?

  • outraged at what?

    most of them are in kollel and yeshiva. but every person needs exercise, it’s unhealthy if you don’t get any.

  • Way to go!

    You boys need some fun instead of learning full time. Just make sure that it doesn’t interfere with your learning!

  • GUY SMOKING THE BALL

    People like "WOUNDERING" and "OUTRAGED"

    Are 2 of the BIGGEST JERKS THAT LIVE IN CH.

    We live in a town that are fighting over EVERY LITTLE THING IMAGINABLE, and when friends get together to play some ball rather then FIGHT AND TALK LOSHON HARAH you 2 fine "BETTER THEN EVERYONE ELSE" have comments to make. Well SHAME ON YOU BOTH and if you had any self repct you would USE A REAL NAME SO WE CAN ALL SEE WHAT YOU ARE MADE OF b/c I am SURE you are a TRUE DUGMAH CHAYA we should all strive to be.

    YE RIGHT!!!!

  • BASEBALL WIFE!!!

    I AM A BASEBALL PLAYERS WIFE , AND TO ALL THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS YOU SHOULD ALL KEEP IT TO YOURSELVES ! OUR HUSBANDS AND I SPEAK FOR ALL THE WIVES OF THESE PLAYERS , FIRST OF ALL MOST OF THESE MAN DONT GO TO KOLLEL MOST OF THEM HAVE ACTUAL JOBS , AND THEIR IS NOTHING WRONG IN REGULAR LUBAVITCHERS GETTING SOME GOOD EXERCICE AND HAVING FUN DOING IT ! THEY REPRESENT A TRUE KIDDUSH LUBAVITCH !
    AND I INVITE ANYONE WHO THINKS DIFFERENTLY TO COME AND WATCH SOME GAMES AND TO WATCH THEM IN ACTION ! PHYSICAL EXERCICE IS THE ONLY WAY TO STAY IN SHAPE AND WHY NOT DO IT WITH A SPORT THAT THEY ALL LOVE ???/ THE MORE YOU EXERCICE THE LONGER YOU LIVE LONG AND PRODUCTIVE LIVES !!!!!!!!!

  • Itzik_s

    Come on. What is wrong with this? Not my style perhaps but last time I checked baseball is good, clean fun. besides, walking around the shchuna with baseball bats might teach (take your pick – Rubashkin, Sperlin) a lesson :) :) :) :)!

  • Njoy!

    I think its a fantastic idea! Those of you with nothing valuble to say – DONT SAY IT!

  • Mendy

    With my tongue firmly planted in my cheek, may I suggest we start a fifth team in this league entitled the Crown Heights Rabbonim?

    Perhaps their slogan can be: The Rabbonim–the team that keeps growing! Or maybe: When we win, everyone loses!

    Then instead of Beis Din, we can have have Base Ball…

  • Dearest Seymour...

    You (Seymour) commented:
    " hobbies need to fit into a -Torah way- of life"

    WHATS ARE YOU A SNAG GO BACK TO LAKEWOOD

    Actually, what I said was not criticism at all-seems like you’re a bit quick at jumping the gun today.

    Making sure that a hobby fits into a Torah way of life is the only way we should approach our hobbies. Do you have any other suggestions??? We are a Yid FIRST and then we are "softball players".

    This is what we learn from the fact that Shmiras Shabbos comes before Kibbud Av Vaem in the Asseres haDibros: Because you must first honour and implement the Shabbos BEFORE you honour your parents. In other words, if one’s parents tell them NOT to keep Shabbos they need not obey them and should keep Shabbos. The same holds true with our hobbies or activities: If something we do does in any way not go together with a life of Torah, Mitzvos, and Chassidus then we should not be doing it.
    You are acting very naive if you think that there are no people who have allowed their love/desire for a certain job/hobby/sport/lifestyle to affect their Yiddishkeit in a negative or detrimental fashion. Many times this happens in a slow way. First a little of this, then a little of that…
    I never said that they shouldn’t be playing, only that they need to remember what’s the main thing. All the best, and if you are one of the players-lots of luck. Have fun.

  • Ikar and TOfel!?!?!?

    I think everyone is misunderstanding one another. Is baseball or sports for that matter a bad thing NO, obviously. V’nishmartem es Nafshoishechem, is not a mere anecdote. Part of exercise is movement and sports is a vital part. HOWEVER IS IT THE IKAR OR SHOULD IT BE BLOWN UP AS IT IS ABOVE, i think this is where the machlokes is. To turn it into such a big thing and even post it a positive turn of event for the C.H. community might cause a stir. I personally play sports but i would be embarresed if it turned into the publicized even as above. MY BEST WISHES TO ALL YIDDEN FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

  • baseball wife 2

    My husband works long hours all week, and never has time to excersize. it’s great that he has an outlet where he can excersize, and do something that he enjoys!! doesn’t make him any less chassidish- He’ll be fit, healthy AND chassidish

  • Happy

    This is a wonderful thing. Everyone needs fun, and when you are having fun, with jewish friends, a jewish neighborhood,and you are doing good things. You are making a kiddush Hashem, which is. amazing….so Keep it up baseball players!

  • sunbathing in brighton

    LOL

    you guys are really something else.

    I’d move to crown heights in a blast…actually considering it …. ;)

    With all the crap going around there is still sooo much life in the CH area amazing when you compare it to umm well I’d rather not knock any other neighborhood.

  • Go Crown Heights Baseball teams

    Wonderful to see these yungerleit playing a healthy and normal sport

    To the nay sayers what do you spend your time with on Sundays? What time do you get up sunday morning? These guys are committed and are up very early play a solid good game then do family things. Monday morning they are off and busy making a living, not sitting round Crown Heights in idle gossip.
    Go guys were are proud of you

  • baseball and basketball mom

    as the mother of one of the players, I would like to lend my support to these guys. most of them are working, as baseball wife mentioned. I think this is a productive way for them to spend their time. we can all, unfortunately, think of other, less appropriate outlets for working AND learning young men. so, let’s encourage them, instead of looking for ways to criticize anyone within a stone’s throw. we all know what percentage of time is actually spent in learning by those warming benches in 770 and kollel.
    go teams!!

  • wondering

    to all you people who are saying thats its not a good thing to play baseball — and you sitting here finding the time to write about all this … how baseball is bad… needs to get a life..and maybe look into thier priorities.

    What does the "negel vassers" have to do with anything

  • if u have nothing smart to say,,,

    and to all the anonymouses who are bashing the baseball players saying its a waste of time and they should be doing more productive things than playing ball.. who are u to talk? your online now checking out this website and writning comments wich dont make any sence, rememer?

  • Letz

    ùÑÀèÅééòÆï ìÅöÄéí, äàÇìÀèÀï òÅöÄéí, äàÇ÷Àï áÌÅéöÄéí!!!

    (Shteien Leitzim, Halten Eitzim, Hakn Beitzim)

  • Ohel

    I do not remember any of the Rabeim or Mashpiem Playing sports. in an Organized and public matter?
    Jews survived for thousends of years without this. Perhaps everyone should be spending their sundays going to the ohel and begging for dollers again. SHAME!!!

  • Leah

    Way to go!!!!!. For all of u out there critizing listen the rebbe said to learn rambam and the rambam tells u towatch ur body what better way than to excerise. Besides lets be real how many people realy sit and learn all day with out bsing. walk into Kollel at any given time are they discussing the latest ch politics or a sicha????????? Keep up the good work. If u guys need any 14 yr olds on ur team let me know

  • impressed!!

    I think what you guys are doing is great. Way to go.. Finally some physical activity goin on in CH.. It’s about time. I wish they’d have something like this for girls.
    ENJOY AND HAVE FUN!!!

  • baseball wife 3

    hi, for all those negative people out there, you might want to try it sometime its good for you- might acutally make you a happier more positive person!!!

    my husband plays and its the best thing – a break from the stresses of every day life, great excercise and if your frum and chassidish this is not going to interfere with that!!! and no one is saying baseball is a priority – some of these guys are married with beautiful families – im guesssssssssing that there priorities lie elswhere and that this is an enjoyable athletic outlet!!

  • A players Mum

    Keep it up guys. I think you are playing in true Lubavitch Spirit. The Rebbe wants us to learn Rambam daily and not just to learn it but to practice. This is terrific. Keep it up. Let us know when there’s a big game and we may come and watch.

  • goodforthem!

    So basically the detractors are saying that it is better if these guys stay home and watch videos, surf the net, talk lashon hara…as long as they do it in private and we don’t have to face the fact that we are living in times when even good, Chassidishe people need outlets. Remember, 100 years ago our ancestors farmed, or did other physical labor, had to go miles on foot to get anywhere…they did get exercise. We live in times where you sit to go to work, you sit all day at work, you sit to go home and then you sit to relax after work. Is it a wonder people’s health is at risk? Anyone taking charge of their life, getting exercise in an appropriate setting with other Chassidishe yungerleit should be praised. And as the saying goes, if you don’t like, don’t look.

  • concerned!

    A good solid smack will send the ball crashing into the back wall of the fire station of rescue number 2 which is right there in center field !!!

  • Yanky

    I don’t know how many of you have actually played baseball, but it’s not a very energetic sport!

  • me

    i think it’s amazing good for them. it’s healthy and it gets people together and it’s good for baal habatim to get out and spend time with friends it’s good mentaly also a great yasher koach to everyone :-)

  • BrookAve

    I was walking behind a man on Kingston. He was very large, carrying bags in both hands. As I came closer, I heard him breathing heavily as if he was out of breath. I caught up to him expecting to see someone in his 70’s. He was no more than 24 years old!! He needs to get on that team !!! It is unusual as we all know to see old, very fat men, because look around…there aren’t any.

  • Cardio vascular

    I am sure if you take a survey of the amount of learning done by people who play baseball and the ones who don’t, I am quite surem that many of thoes who PLAY baseball actually LEARN MORE… (BTW, if you play baseball and dont learn youre embarrasing the sport)

    When i excersize rigirously, I am motivated and I learn in my spare time. When I don’t excersize … I… uh.. end up browsing Crownheights.info instead…. ;-)

  • Amazed that this article is shocking

    There are some people in Crown Heights who complain, but don’t take action. They know that any action they take will put them at risk of criticism.
    (Look at the growth of "Focus on Fathers" – if there were people like Daniel and Zevy in the "Focus on Fathers" program it would probably be a much bigger group – which would be good for the whole community.)
    I applaud and admire people who are willing to stand up and take action.
    Also, if you’ve been to a game and watch teammates cheer each other on, help each other out, and develop relationships that can increase brotherhood in the community I don’t see how anyone can honestly look down at the hard working men running this league.

  • Teacher

    To Ikar and Tofel: This is not being BLOWN UP–it’s only on CrownHeights.info which is an information page for Crown Heights–right where it belongs.
    To Ohel: The Rebbe did a lot of things that we DON’T do-we are not Rabbeim and we are not meant to be. We are Chassidim and sometimes to do our job properly–whatever it entails–includes giving ourselves time as well. Remember a Jew’s Gashmius is Ruchnius (Hayom Yom)
    BTW–I know of a group of Shluchim in southern California who get together every week for a game of basketball. It invigorates them and helps them do their Shlichus much more effectively.
    As a teacher, one of the things I tell my students is: "If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say it." For all those criticizing, think about that first.

  • Anti

    I cant believe you people are making such a big deal about softball. I mean they play like a bunch of women, yet all you people do is talk about it. YOu should all be ashamed of yourselfes.

  • love to learn and love to jog

    BS"D

    How do you guys have so much time to post negative comments-go learn or get some exercise.