The Spy Behind Home Plate

Moe Berg led two lives: one was of public accomplishment, easy grace, and dazzling intellect. Hidden from view was his career as an OSS operative, whose daring deeds helped prevent the Axis powers from developing an atom bomb.

Tagged the ‘brainiest man in baseball,’ the son of Jewish immigrants stumped collegiate competitors by calling signals in Latin, and was eventually called up to the majors—playing catcher for the Washington Senators and other clubs during baseball’s Golden Age. He went on to join Babe Ruth on an All-Star tour to Japan, which brought his heroism, athletic career, and spy-craft together, in a tale put to screen by dynamic documentarian Aviva Kempner.

Screening followed by a conversation with filmmaker Aviva Kempner and Franklin Foer, national correspondent for The Atlantic.