Farmington Hills resident Howard Waxer received an early birthday present when his grandson was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals.
There probably isn’t a prouder Jewish grandfather in the Detroit area than Farmington Hills resident Howard Waxer.
His grandson, University of San Diego senior catcher Jayden Lobliner, was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals on July 12 in the ninth round (264th pick) of the Major League Baseball draft.
“It was a triple wow and a wonderful early birthday present when I saw Jayden’s name pop up on the MLB.com website on my phone,” Waxer said. “I yelled so loud, it drove my dog crazy.”
Waxer will turn 78 on Aug. 4.
Bowling is Waxer’s claim to fame in the sports world.
The lifelong Detroiter competed for Team USA at the 2001 and 2005 Maccabiah Games in Israel, and the 2003 Pan American Maccabiah Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A longtime B’nai B’rith bowler, he served as president and was on the board of the International B’nai B’rith Bowling Association, and president of the Metropolitan Detroit B’nai B’rith Bowling Association.
In the business world, the Detroit Mumford High School and Wayne State University graduate has been the owner of the Southfield-based Parties with Class catering service for 45 years.
Waxer said he’s received congratulations on his grandson’s selection in the MLB draft from his bowling friends …throughout the world.
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell also offered his congratulations … after Waxer spotted Campbell and his wife eating at the Sunrise Cafe in Farmington Hills and gave Campbell the news.
It was the first time Waxer and Campbell had met.
Former Red Wings star Darren McCarty was another big Detroit sports name who congratulated Waxer.
McCarty is the new president of the Detroit Sports Media group. Waxer is a member of the organization.
Lobliner, 21, was born in Royal Oak. He moved with his family to St. Charles, Ill., where he attended high school, and started his college baseball career at Kansas State University before transferring to San Diego.
University of San Diego catcher Jayden Lobliner was a two-time winner of the West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award.
University of San Diego
He played the last two seasons for the Toreros, earning back-to-back West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and WCC Second Team honors and a spot on the midseason watch list for the 2026 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award.
He hit .291 in 103 career games at San Diego with 16 homers and 69 RBIs while throwing out 28 would-be base stealers. He started and played in all 51 games this season.
His final weekend in a San Diego uniform was a memorable one. He hit for the cycle on May 14 and had a walk-off single two days later, both against Loyola-Marymount.
Only two players in San Diego history have hit for the cycle. The other time was 25 years ago.
Waxer proudly points out he taped his grandson’s first over-the-fence home run on July 6, 2012, during a travel baseball tournament game in the Chicago area.
“Jayden is a good player, and he’s only going to get better in the Cardinals organization,” Waxer said. “You never hear anything bad about them. They develop and take care of their players. I guess I’ll have to start drinking Budweiser beer.”
Anheuser-Busch, Budweiser’s parent company, has owned the Cardinals since 1953.
Waxer is confident his grandson can make his way up through the Cardinals organization to the Major League club in a couple of years because of his talent, work ethic and mental approach to baseball.
“He’s so calm,” Waxer said. “He knows what’s ahead of him. He knows it’s not going to be easy, and there are going to be ups and downs.
“Everyone is going to like Jayden. He has no ego. He’s a team player.
“I’m so happy for him to achieve a lifelong dream at his age.”
Lobliner has already reported to the Cardinals’ training facility in Palm Beach, Florida, and signed a contract.
Waxer bowls in the Brotherhood-Eddie Jacobson B’nai B’rith Bowling League with Stu Vinsky.
Vinsky’s grandson David Vinsky, a former star baseball player at Northwood University, was selected by the Cardinals in the 15th round of the 2019 MLB draft.
He’s no longer with the Cardinals organization but still playing pro baseball.
“How about that. Here’s two guys in the same Jewish bowling league whose grandsons were drafted by the Cardinals,” Waxer said. “What are the odds of that happening?”
Jayden Lobliner’s parents are Aaron and Ginger Lobliner. Aaron is Waxer’s son.
Send sports news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.
The Detroit Jewish News has been supported by readers like you since 1942. Support independent, local, Jewish journalism with a donation today.