Hank Greenberg

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Hank Greenberg
Hank Greenberg 1937 cropped.jpg
First baseman
Born: January 1, 1911
New York City , United StatesUnited StatesUnited States 
Died on: September 4th, 1986 in
Beverly Hills , United StatesUnited StatesUnited States 
Suggested: Right Threw: Right
Debut in Major League Baseball
September 14,  1930  with the  Detroit Tigers
Last MLB assignment
September 18,  1947  with the  Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
(until end of career)
Batting average    .313
Home runs    331
Runs Batted In    1,276
Teams
Awards
member of
☆☆☆Baseball Hall of Fame☆☆☆
Recorded     1956
Quota    85%

Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg (born January 1, 1911 in New York City , New York , † September 4, 1986 in Beverly Hills , California ) was an American baseball player in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the position of first Basemans . His nickname was Hammerin 'Hank .

biography

Hank Greenberg was born to Jewish immigrants from Romania in New York City and completed his education there at James Monroe High School in the Bronx . In 1929 the New York Yankees wanted to sign him , but since they already had an outstanding first baseman in Lou Gehrig , he turned down this offer and accepted a sports scholarship at New York University . He stayed at the university for a year until the Detroit Tigers signed him . He made his debut with the Tigers in the American League on September 14, 1930 against the Yankees. Greenberg was not able to secure a permanent place in the team of the Tigers until 1933, in the meantime he played with the teams of the Tigers in minor league baseball . In his first full season he hit 12 home runs and 33 doubles with a batting average of 30.1%. In 1934 he increased to 26 home runs, 139 RBI and a batting average of 33.9%. With these achievements he helped his team to win the title in the American League, but in the World Series they were subject to the St. Louis Cardinals . Another increase in 1935 (36 home runs, 170 RBI) earned him the choice of MVP of the American League. The Tigers were also able to win the American League again and contested the World Series against the Chicago Cubs . In the second game of this series on October 3, Greenberg broke his wrist while trying to reach the home plate from first base and was out for the rest of the series that the Tigers won. After twelve games of the 1936 season, Greenberg injured himself again on the same wrist and had to sit out the rest of the year.

As a result of these injuries, there was speculation that Greenberg would have to end his career, which he clearly refuted through his achievements in the following years. 40 home runs, 183 RBI and a batting average of 33.1% were his success numbers for 1937. The following year he chased Babe Ruth's home run record . With 58 home runs scored, he was only two under the Yankees legend's record. In 1940 he moved from 1st base to the outfield. In this position he was able to achieve his second MVP title. He led the American League in home runs, doubles and RBI that year. The Tigers were able to take the Yankees' title in the American League for the first time in four years, but failed because of the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.

In 1941 he only played 19 games before he was drafted into the military. In his last game on May 18, Greenberg got two home runs against the New York Yankees . His next game after the military service he played on July 1, 1945 against the Philadelphia Athletics . In his first punching appearance, he managed a home run again. On September 30th of this year, Hank Greenberg managed a grand slam home run in the ninth inning against the St. Louis Browns to a 6-3 win, which secured the Tigers the title in the American League. In the World Series against the Chicago Cubs , the Tigers were able to prevail in seven games.

Hank Greenberg played his last season with the Tigers in 1946, before he played for a short time with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947, where he ended his professional career on September 18, 1947. At the Tigers, his salary should be reduced, which led Greenberg to consider his resignation. The Tigers then sold him to the Pirates, who reportedly made him the first baseball player to earn over $ 100,000 a year. The Pirates' co-owner, Bing Crosby , recorded a song with Groucho Marx and Greenberg called Goodbye, Mr. Ball, Goodbye, to celebrate Greenberg's arrival with the Pirates.

After his resignation, he became director of the Cleveland Indians farm system and two years later general manager of the Indians. He later became a co-owner of the Chicago White Sox . In 1963 he said goodbye to baseball and became an investment banker.

In 1956 he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame . Since June 12, 1983, the Tigers no longer assign Greenbergs number 5. Hank Greenberg died on September 4, 1986 at the age of 75.

documentary

  • Aviva Kempner : The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg , USA 1999 (95 min.)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Greenberg, Hank
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Greenberg, Henry Benjamin (full name); Hammerin 'Hank (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American baseball player
DATE OF BIRTH January 1, 1911
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City , New York
DATE OF DEATH 4th September 1986
Place of death Beverly Hills , California