Late umpire’s presence felt in Jerusalem
Israeli baseball retired his number, created scholarship to honour him
At one of the most dramatic stages of the Maccabiah Games men’s softball championship match last month, an unprovoked, lighthearted moment innocently unfolded on the Kibbutz Gezer diamond in Jerusalem.
For many of the spectators, seeing a cat run onto the diamond as Canada was trying to rally from a two-run deficit in extra innings was somewhat funny.
But for the four members of the Osterer family on the Canadian team, it also carried a significantly different meaning, one that was heartwarming, motivating and puzzling at the same time.
On the final day of the 20th Maccabiah Games, the third largest multi-sport Games in the world and considered the Jewish Olympics, Canada and the United States were deadlocked 2-2, after the regulation seven innings.
Under international softball rules, each extra inning must start with a runner on second base.
The Americans took advantage of that running-scoring incentive by counting two runs in the top of the eighth inning for a 4-2 lead. For its half of the eighth, Canada started Paul Foucaul Jr. on second base.
Daniel Osterer of Ottawa then fell behind on the count with no balls and two strikes.
Another strike by hard-throwing, but tiring, American pitcher Jason Gluckman and Canada would be two outs from a second straight silver medal.
But at the most unpredictable moment, the game came to sudden halt, almost as if time froze in the 30C-plus heat and humidity of Jerusalem.
As Osterer was preparing for a mighty Gluckman drop pitch or rise ball, a cat mysteriously ran onto the field.
For two to three minutes, the game stopped until the cat did its thing before leaving the diamond.
This was a slice of comedic relief, but also a chance for the Canadians to catch their collective breaths.
But the four members of the Osterer family — brothers Daniel and Robbie, and their cousins Stephen and Jacob — viewed the cat from a totally different perspective. They deduced the cat could have been sent by their uncle Howie Osterer, who died Nov. 11, 2014, of a heart attack at home plate on that same diamond, while umpiring an Israel Association of Baseball junior-level game.
The Osterers figured Howie wanted to have some fun, maybe distract the Americans, maybe bring the Canadians good fortune and, if that was the case, what happened next certainly supports that theory.
“Howie was a mischievous guy,” Daniel said in an interview.
“He liked to have fun and keep everyone loose. It was something he’d enjoy.”
Whether Howie was the reason behind the cat making an unscheduled appearance will never be known, but “whatever it was, was a welcomed break,” according to Daniel.
Back in the batter’s box, Daniel stayed alive by earning a walk, giving Canada runners on first and second base and no one out.
When Canadian team captain Rob Bohbot singled sharply up the middle, the bases were loaded.
Les Bernstein used his third hit of the game, a single, to score Foucaul, reducing the deficit to 4-3 and keeping the bases full.
Ottawa’s Jacob Osterer, an elite level baseball and hockey player, came to the plate for the opportunity of a lifetime.
“When he puts his ‘A’ swing on a pitch, good things happen,” Daniel said.
Jacob wasted no time, drilling Gluckman’s first pitch for a walkoff, two-RBI single. Daniel scored the tying run and Bohbot slid across home plate for the gamewinning run to set off the goldmedal celebration.
Somewhere, Howie Osterer, who was an Ontario Football Conference junior all-star defensive lineman for the Ottawa Sooners in 1976, also must have been smiling as his four nephews were part of the ultimate comeback.
As Dan and Bohbot crossed home plate, the celebratory moment for the Osterers and their family members in the crowd was also a reminder of the tragic moment that happened on the Gezer Field almost 32 months ago.
While Howie Osterer, then 59, umpired a night baseball game, he suddenly called time at home plate, went down on one knee and then collapsed. Two doctors in the stands performed CPR, but he died about an hour later in hospital.
Born and raised in Ottawa, the divorced father of five children moved to Israel in 2008. In Judaism, it’s called Aliyah or returning to the Holy Land. He was seeking a fresh start and his connection with and immersion into Israel baseball gave him a new purpose in life.
He became the regional director for the Israel Association of Baseball, developed and promoted the sport at all youth levels, and was proud to see the players’ enthusiasm. He brought a new energy to baseball in Israel and at the same time it energized him.
The Osterer name certainly was well recognized during the 20th Maccabiah Games at the Gezer diamond. Daniel was warmly greeted by Howie’s umpiring partner and an official of the Israel Association of Baseball.
“They said how much the kids loved him (Howie),” Daniel said.
And Israel baseball certainly loved Howie, retiring his umpire number (55), creating a scholarship in his name to assist young players, and naming a batting cage after the former Maccabiah Games ump.
Before the start of Team Canada’s round-robin game against Cuba, a short remembrance service was held to honour Howie. Both teams lined up along the basepaths. Kind and solemn words were spoken.
Then there was a moment of silence.