Ike Davis Debating Whether to Play on Yom Kippur

Mets rookie first baseman Ike Davis has a moral decision to make.

Davis, whose mother practices Judaism and has several family members who died in the Holocaust, is debating whether or not to play on Yom Kippur, which begins Friday at sundown.

The plan: Let mom decide.

"I'm going to see what she says," Davis told ESPN.com.

Davis is not the first big league player to be faced with the dilemma of playing on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Sandy Koufax, who is arguably the most famous and successful Jewish player in baseball history, declined to pitch Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur.

In 2006, Mets outfielder Shawn Green did not sit out during a playoff game that fell on Yom Kippur. One year later, Green decided not to play in a Friday night regular-season game, but then suited up for the team’s Saturday game, which also fell on Yom Kippur.

"I wanted to observe and recognize it, but I felt it would be more hypocritical to miss both," Green said in 2007. "I didn't grow up conservative or very religious. At the same time, I understand being a Jewish role model as an athlete. I do find it important for people to recognize their faith.”

Luckily for Davis, his Mets are nowhere near postseason contention, so that won't be a factor in his decision.