Major League Baseball

Israel's World Baseball Classic mascot has become their own 'Jobu'

Published Mar. 7, 2017 11:24 a.m. ET

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Brett Smiley

After a 2-0 start in first-round games at the World Baseball Classic in Seoul, baseball fans are starting to take notice of Team Israel and the large, stuffed, mustachioed figure on their bench. He's the "Mensch on the Bench" but more importantly he's become their own "Jobu."

"Every team needs their Jobu," first baseman/outfielder Cody Decker said of the figure, which translates to good or admirable person in Yiddish. "He was ours. He had his own locker, and we even gave him offerings: Manischewitz, gelt and gefilte fish."

That was during the qualifying rounds. The good luck charm, which is a life-sized version of a toy imitating the more widely known "Elf on the Shelf" Christmas figure, is still traveling with the team and pitching in everywhere he can.

https://twitter.com/Boomskie/status/833470143799832576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"He is everywhere and nowhere all at once," Decker said. "His actual location is irrelevant because he exists in higher metaphysical planes. But he's always near."

Watch The Mensch and Decker together at a recent press conference:

"He’s a mascot, he’s a friend, he’s a teammate, he’s a borderline deity to our team…" Decker has said. "He brings a lot to the table.”

Next up for Team Israel is the Netherlands in a game beginning at 4:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

As the name implies, the Mensch operates on the bench but by the look of the way he's holding that candle, he probably bats lefty, which could be useful in the late innings. Stay tuned.

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