31 Oct GETTING TO KNOW HOUSTON ASTROS ALEX BREGMAN

Alex Bregman is the first Jewish player to win a World Series game
with a walk-off hit

Houston Astros infielder Alex Bregman notched the first-ever walk-off
hit by a Jewish player in the World Series when his RBI single drove
home Derek Fisher to lead his team to an epic 13-12, 10-inning win
over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Name: Alexander David Bregman
Born: March 30, 1994
Position: Third baseman / Shortstop
College: LSU
2017 Salary: $507,500
Chilhood History: Bregman is Jewish and was born in Albuquerque, New
Mexico. He was a member of Albuquerque’s Congregation Albert growing
up and lived in the Northeast Heights section of Albuquerque.His
father, Sam Bregman, and his mother, Jackie Bregman, are both lawyers,
and he has two younger siblings, Jessica and Anthony.
His grandfather Stan Bregman was the son of Russian Jewish
immigrants.His grandfather was general counsel for the Washington
Senators from the late 1960s until the team moved to Texas in 1971 in
a sale that he negotiated, and he helped the club sign Hall of Famer
Ted Williams as the team’s general manager. His grandfather saw all of
his games in high school.His great-grandfather Samuel “Bo” Bregman
immigrated from Russia to Washington, D.C., around 1900 and married
Sadie Hurwitz Bregman.
Hobbies: Love chess & collecting baseball cards
Favorite ball player growing up: Derek Jeter
Most difficult player faced: Chris Sale

Q: What does it take to achieve the kind of success you have had?

A: My personal belief is that everyone is created equally. In my
opinion, talent doesn’t exist. I think it comes down to being obsessed
with what you want to be. If you are obsessed with what you want to
be, you will find a way to make it happen. You just have to decide.
Personally, I haven’t ever been willing to accept that anyone is going
to be doing more than I am to get better at this game. It’s not just
about what you want, it’s about how hard you are willing to work to
get what you want. If you want to be a Division I baseball player,
work for it. If you want to be the valedictorian, work for it.
Regardless of what it is, wanting something is a lot different than
working for something.

Q: How do you like your manager A.J. Hinch?
A: A.J. believes in us. I remember when I first got called up, I went
1-for-30-something and he said, “Hey, I believe in you. I’m moving you
up in the lineup to the two-hole.” And that right there kind of made
me feel like I belonged in the Big Leagues. And he does it countless
times throughout the season with everybody in our lineup. His
unwavering confidence in us really sets the tone for our team. And his
belief in his players makes his players want to run through a wall for
him.

Q:What is about you that makes you so fearless?
A: I don’t know. I think it’s just due to the preparation I put in in
the offseason and Spring Training, and knowing that I have such good
teammates around me, that I just need to do my part and pull my end of
the rope.