Head to Harkins for “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel”

Hundreds of Minor League Baseball’s top prospects have taken to Valley baseball fields to participate in Arizona Fall League, but there’s one more crowd favorite who will step up to the plate this weekend.

“Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel,” an award-winning documentary film featuring former and current Jewish Major League Baseball players who played for Israel in the World Baseball Classic, rounds the bases when it returns to Harkins Shea 14 Theaters in Scottsdale starting Friday, October 18, and is highlighted by two weekend screenings featuring VIP appearances, autograph signings and question-and-answer sessions.

“Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel,” is the David-and-Goliath story of Israel’s national baseball team as it competes for the first time in the World Baseball Classic. After years of crushing defeats, Israel finally ranks among the world’s best in 2017. Its roster includes many Jewish-American major leaguers, most with a tenuous relationship to Judaism, barely any ever having set foot in Israel. Their odyssey takes them from the Holy Land where they are hailed as modern-day Maccabees to the tournament in South Korea where they must debunk their reputations as has-beens and wannabes.

Helping bring this uplifting story to the Valley to coincide with Arizona Fall Ball is MLB.com journalist and producer Jonathan Mayo.

“I come to Arizona several times a year for baseball coverage, so I’m very excited to bring ‘Heading Home’ to Scottsdale,” Mayo says. “With the Arizona Fall League in full swing, I thought it was a perfect time to bring the film here.”

The Saturday, October 19 screening will feature Mayo, Team Israel pitching coach Andrew Lorraine and pitcher Dean Kremer, currently here pitching for the Baltimore Orioles, as well as Diamondbacks fan favorite, Baxter. The Sunday, October 20 screening, will feature Mayo and Team Israel star Josh Zeid, who now lives in Arizona and works for the Chicago Cubs in pitching development.

“There’s a lot of excitement about Israel Baseball now after the team’s thrilling run through Olympic Qualifying,” Mayo says “Several players from the World Baseball Classic team were on that Olympic Qualifying team as well, and they are now all officially Israeli citizens. Coming to see “Heading Home” would be a great way to celebrate the World Baseball Classic while also looking ahead to the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel” begins its limited theatrical run on Fridays, October 18 at Harkins Shea 14. Tickets for the screenings can be purchased at www.harkins.com

WHAT: “Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel” special Fall League screening & autograph session
WHEN: starts Friday, October 18. Special screenings are Saturday, October 19 at 11:45 am and Sunday, October 20 at 4 pm
WHERE: Harkins Shea 14 Theater at 7354 E. Shea Blvd. in Scottsdale
MORE INFO: https://www.harkins.com/movies/heading-home-the-tale-of-team-israel-86355-0

Read our cover story here on player Ike Davis who lives in the Valley and played with team Israel.

 

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