© 2024 Milwaukee Public Media is a service of UW-Milwaukee's College of Letters & Science
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Now Batting In Milwaukee: 'The Spy Behind Home Plate'

Morris Berg — known to longtime baseball fans as Moe Berg — was a catcher who later caught secrets from enemies of the U.S. during World War II.

A documentary about Berg's life in sports, and espionage, titled, The Spy Behind Home Plate is now playing at the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee.   

Former Major League Baseball Commissioner, and former Milwaukee Brewers owner, Bud Selig is in the film: "I feel fortunate to have been able to participate in this tribute to an unsung American hero," Selig said.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_rQixY-sQI

The film's director, Aviva Kempner, has a pretty good batting average herself — she's made several well-received documentaries about non-stereotypical images of Jews. From her home in Washington D.C.,  Kempner told WUWM's Chuck Quirmbach that Moe Berg's story was worth her time:

The Spy Behind Home Plate will be shown at the Oriental through Thursday. It's presented in partnership with the Jewish Museum Milwaukee, Milwaukee County Historical Society, Milwaukee Jewish Federation, and OnMilwaukee.