- Byname of:
- Henry Benjamin Greenberg
- Also called:
- Hammerinā Hank
- Died:
- September 4, 1986, Beverly Hills, California (aged 75)
- Awards And Honors:
- Baseball Hall of Fame (1956)
- Most Valuable Player (1940)
- Most Valuable Player (1935)
- two-time MVP
- Baseball Hall of Fame (inducted in 1956)
- five-time All-Star
- 2 World Series championships
- College:
- New York University (New York, NY)
- Height/Weight:
- 6 ft 3 inches, 210 lb (190 cm, 95 kg)
- Batting Hand:
- right
- Throwing Hand:
- right
- Debut Date:
- September 14, 1930
- Last Game:
- September 18, 1947
- Jersey Number:
- 7 (1933-1933, Detroit Tigers)
- 5 (1934-1946, Detroit Tigers)
- 5 (1947-1947, Pittsburgh Pirates)
- Position:
- first baseman and leftfielder
- At Bats:
- 5,193
- Batting Average:
- 0.313
- Hits:
- 1,628
- Home Runs:
- 331
- On-Base Percentage:
- 0.412
- On-Base Plus Slugging:
- 1.017
- Runs:
- 1,046
- Runs Batted In:
- 1,274
- Slugging Percentage:
- 0.605
- Stolen Bases:
- 58
Hank Greenberg
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Who was Hank Greenberg?
Hank Greenberg (1911ā1986) was an American professional baseball player and one of baseballās best hitters. He won two American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards (1935, 1940) and was the sportās first Jewish superstar.
Greenberg played for the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates. He missed three full seasons and parts of two more serving in the military during World War II. In 1945, he helped the Tigers win their first World Series title, earning the AL MVP award in the process. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What position did Hank Greenberg play in baseball?
Hank Greenberg played as a first baseman and left fielder in baseball. Greenberg, born in New York City, played with the Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was known as one of baseball's best hitters and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
For which baseball team did Hank Greenberg play most of his career?
Hank Greenberg played the majority of his baseball career with the Detroit Tigers. He signed with the Tigers in 1929 and played his first full major league season in 1933, quickly becoming a premier power hitter. After serving in the military during World War II, he returned to the Tigers in 1945, helping them win their second World Series title. In 1947, Greenberg was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and he retired in 1948.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some of Hank Greenbergās most famous achievements in baseball?
Hank Greenberg, one of baseball's best hitters, played primarily first base and left field. He won two American League (AL) MVP awards (1935, 1940) and was the sportās first Jewish superstar.
Some of his achievements include:
* Helped the Detroit Tigers win their first World Series title in 1935.
* In 1938, he hit 58 home runs, just 2 short of Babe Ruth's record at the time.
* In 1940, he led the league in home runs, RBIs, and doubles, with a .340 batting average, earning his second MVP award.
* After serving in the military during WWII, he returned in 1945 and hit a grand slam in the last game of the season to clinch the AL pennant for Detroit, which then won its second World Series.
* Was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Hank Greenbergās Jewish heritage influence his baseball career?
Hank Greenberg, one of baseball's best hitters and the sportās first Jewish superstar, faced anti-Semitism during his career. Playing in Detroit, where Henry Ford and Rev. Charles E. Coughlin were known for their anti-Semitic views, Greenberg dealt with hostility from crowds and prejudice from opposing players. His refusal to play on Yom Kippur in 1934, a highly publicized decision, demonstrated his commitment to his faith. Despite the challenges, his stellar performance and graciousness earned him respect and praise, helping the Tigers win their first World Series in 1935.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why is Hank Greenberg considered an important figure in baseball history?
Hank Greenberg is an important figure in baseball history because he was one of the game's best hitters and the sport's first Jewish superstar. Playing first base and left field, Greenberg won two American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards (1935, 1940) and was a five-time All-Star.
Greenberg's decision to not play on Yom Kippur during the 1934 pennant race, along with his stellar play and graciousness, earned him respect. He helped the Detroit Tigers win their first World Series title in 1935. Greenberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.
3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Hank Greenberg (born January 1, 1911, Bronx, New York, U.S.ādied September 4, 1986, Beverly Hills, California) was an American professional baseball player who, as one of the gameās best hitters, won two American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards (1935, 1940) and became the sportās first Jewish superstar.
After a standout high-school baseball career, Greenberg was offered a contract by his hometown New York Yankees. He was put off by the prospect of having to oust the teamās then first baseman, superstar Lou Gehrig, so he declined the offer and studied for a year at New York University before signing with the Detroit Tigers in 1929. The lanky 6-foot 4-inch (1.93-metre) Greenberg appeared in just one game for the Tigers in 1930 before being sent to the minors for seasoning. He played his first full major league season in 1933, and he quickly established himself as one of baseballās premier power hitters.
Playing in the Detroit of the notoriously anti-Semitic Henry Ford and the Rev. Charles E. Coughlin, Greenberg initially dealt with a largely hostile crowd at his home games as well as on the road. Additionally, he often encountered prejudice on the field from opposing players and managers. His stellar play and his off-field graciousnessāprobably best exemplified by his well-publicized refusal to play on Yom Kippur during the 1934 pennant raceāeventually won him the respect and praise of the baseball world. Greenberg helped the Tigers win their first World Series title in 1935, earning the AL MVP award in the process. In 1938 he hit 58 home runs (2 home runs short of Babe Ruthās then record), and in 1940 he led the league in home runs, runs batted in (RBIs), and doubles while registering a .340 batting average to again be named MVP.
Greenberg missed three full seasons and parts of two more while serving in the military in World War II. After his return to the Tigers in 1945, he hit a dramatic ninth-inning grand slam in the last game of the season to clinch the AL pennant for Detroit, which then went on to win its second World Series title. Greenberg was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947, and he retired in 1948. He was part owner and general manager of the Cleveland Indians from 1950 until 1957 and held the same positions for the Chicago White Sox from 1959 to 1961. He left baseball at the end of his stint with the White Sox and embarked on a successful career as an investor on Wall Street. Greenberg was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, in 1956. His story is recounted in the award-wnning film documentary The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (1999).