The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle from Milwaukee, Wisconsin • Page 42

Page 14, Section December 7, 1990 Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle AVANTI ESTHETICS tf When two Mickey Mantles can't get one Mike Epstein Wisfies A Joyous Chanukah ft Mono Christon 316 E. Silver Spring Suite 201 70-4yX Man collects only Jewish sports cards greats, the near-greats and just By Andrew Silow Carroll 1 WacUaftoa Jcwtak Wedc HAPPY CHANUKAH Ni "eil Keller may be one of the few people on earth who remembers a strap I 1 41 John Bobbi Rosenberg plain awfuls, who with icy stares and swinging bats put an end to jokes that Jews couldn't play sports. (Q: What's the world's thinnest book? "Great Jewish Sid Gordon. Ron Blomberg. Barry Latman.

Howie Koplitz. "It looks like a bunch of CPAs," said Keller, a certified public accountant Among Keller's collection are five Al Rosens, the Cleveland Indians star who was voted the American League's most valuable player in 1953, and one of every card printed featuring pitcher Steve Stone, who won the Cy Young Award as an Oriole in 1980. Among the four Washington Senators in Keller's collection is Mike Epstein, nicknamed "Super Jew," who belted 120 homers in an eight-season career that ended in 1974. Not only does he have most of Epstein's cards, but he has unearthed a rare double Jew card, featuring ping Jewish kid from Los Angeles named Aaron "Al" Silvera. Silvera joined the Cincinnati Reds baseball club in 195S and finished his big league career 13 games later.

But then, Keller may be the only person on earth who collects Jewish bubble gum cards that is, baseball, football and basketball cards featuring Jewish players. For most people, Al Silvera is a trivia question. For Keller, he's a valuable addition to a collection that has grown to 400 cards and is worth an estimated $3,000. "It's pretty neat what I've done," said Keller, 30, of Rockville, as he opens one of the three fat albums in which he files his card collection. There, placed lovingly inside plastic sleeves, is a gallery of the At 230 Mike Epstein, appearing on a 1968 Topps card, was a home run threat for five major league teams in the early 1970s.

Epstein, then an Oakland poised to put the tag on California Angel Richie Scheinblum. Keller also has basketball players, like new Milwaukee Bucks center Danny Schayes, and football players, like Ron (See page 16) Paid for by Hasten for Senate Commitee ClfjA Layton State Bank ifj Big enough for all your Banking needs CKOJCOSMKI 2740 WEST FOREST HOME AVE. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53215 414645-7100 5850 BROAD STREET GREENDALE, WISCONSIN 53129 414421-2100 Member Zffappy Chanukafi and (Peace throughout the lASorCd EQUAL QMWUMTY LENDER Happy Chanukah from all of us at Pbntiacv IS Sj 5 Nissan and Isuzu Dealers Monya Tolkan Uinie and Tom Weil Edith and Jay Kohler 7676 We 76th Street 355-63QO 5U51 Sincere Wishes to you at Chanukah time (KREETTDRJSS "I FOOD STORES En- BAYSHOREMAYFAIR..