March 2

2003 Jewish Major Leaguers #36 - Moe Berg

On this day in 1902, catcher Moe Berg was born.

From 1926 until 1930, Moe Berg roamed the diamond for the Chicago White Sox. He started out as a solid utility infielder, but was moved to backup catcher in 1928 after a series of injuries to Sox catchers forced the team's hand, a role which he would fill for various teams until his retirement in 1939.

While playing for the White Sox, Berg earned his Bachelor of Laws from Columbia University and passed the New York State bar exam. Moe's biggest accomplishment was being a spy for the U.S. government. He determined that the Germans were not close to developing a nuclear bomb during World War II and received the Medal of Freedom for his efforts.

After the war, Berg turned down numerous MLB coaching jobs, including one for the Chicago White Sox, in order to pursue his dream of working with the CIA. Moe was hired by the CIA again in 1952, but came up empty. When his contract expired, the CIA chose not to renew it. Berg spent the rest of his life trying to work as a spy again for the CIA.


White Sox March 2nd birthdays:

1902 - Moe Berg
1907 - Jack Knott
1924 - Cal Abrams
1960 - Mike Woodward