Hank Greenberg Biography

Henry Benjamin Greenberg was born in an Orthodox Jewish family on January 1, 1911 and died on September 4, 1986. Born in New York, in the Bronx and measured 1.88mts 96 kilograms. He attended James Monroe in the Bronx and it dies in Beverly Hills, California.

It was a complete athlete and played soccer football and basketball, but his favorite was always the Baseball, the national pastime of Americans without any doubt. He chose as his first base position and was right to kick and hit and although the Yankees offered him a contract, at that time the immortal idol Lou Gerigh first base occupied, Hank spent a year at the University of New York and signed contract with the Detroit Tigers. He spent three years in the minors working hard and improving his fielding and batting, was named MVP - that is the most valuable in the Texas League- and in 1933 for bateó.301 Tigers and 87 RBIs.

In 1934, Detroit's big question was, "Should I play Hank Greenberg day of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?”
 

With the Tigers involved in a fierce competition with the Yankees for the pennant, the Jewish gunboat sought spiritual guidance. After due deliberation, Rabbi Leo Franklin decided that Greenberg had to play during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, a festive occasion; He did and homered in the tenth inning to win the game. However, Rabbi Franklin said the slugger should pray, without play, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Greenberg accepted. The poet Edgar Guest said:

We might miss him in the infield

and miss his bat,

but he's true to his religion?

And I congratulate you for that.
 

The Tigers won the pennant, and Greenberg homered in the World Series, as it did in all four series in which he played. A year later, he shot 36 homers and drove in 170 runs deserving the MVP award, but lost the last four games of the series with a broken wrist. Greenberg had zero years in 1936 with 67 shifts a tree; however, in 1937, he drove a stunning amount of 183 runs in 1938 and stayed just behind Babe Ruth's home run record with 58.

After shooting 33 homers and drive in 112 runs 1939, he was forced to lower his salary of $ 10,000 if he stayed at first base. On the contrary, he moved to the gardens, making room for good hitter, though not fielder Rudy York, and received an increase of US $ 10,000. He was selected MVP again in 1940 when the Tigers lost the series in seven games against Cincinnati.
 

In May 1941, Greenberg was called by the Army and returned in July 1945, winning the pennant for the Tigers on the last day of the season with a home run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth inning. In 1947 he had his last adventure with the Pirates, shooting 25 homers and driving 75 runs in his only season in the National League. When he retired in the fall, had led the league in RBIs four times, he got absolutely titles homers four times and tied once in the lead, and shot 331 homers in his career, although he had missed four seasons and half by war and injuries.

World War in 1945 and just 34 years back to Detroit and plays homers in his return this year and leads Tigers win another World Series perplexing and strangers and in the final league game achieves grand slam that definitely gets into the hearts of people and recognition to its few detractors.

He played two more seasons and retired and were the first Jewish owner and manager in baseball joining in 1954 at the Cleveland Indians that won 111 games in the season setting a record and then with Bill Veeck buys the White Sox and 1961 sold all I had in baseball and continued with a successful career on Wall Street.

In 1954 was the first Jew to be elected to the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown and thus came after Sandy Koufax and Al Rosen and Bud Selig.

Numbers:

• 5 times chosen for All-Star Game in 1937, 38, 39, 40 and 1945.
• Won two World Series in 1935 and 1945.
• American League MVP in 1935 and 1940.
• He lost 19 games in the 1941 season, following three seasons and part of 1945 by the world war and besides his broken wrist.
• It would have reached 500 or 600 home runs without interruptions almost 2000 RBIs and played 1394 games.
• His career average was 331 homeruns from 313 and managed 1276 runs and drove.
• It was acquired by Pittsburgh in 1937 and 1938 for a payment of $ 75,000.
• It debuted in 1930 and his last appearance in September 1947.

It is (Hammerin Hank) Greenberg Benjamin Henry certainly full professional baseball MOS Jewish history and through his life showed the qualities of every human being should have for our neighbor, his love for his country, showing that between Jews at that time could also highlight because he lived at the time of the Great Depression, two world wars and passed out on.

Hopefully many readers discuss the life and work of this man with their families, children and young people is growing because of the winners is learned, they are listened to and respected.