Hank Greenberg (1911–1986)

Hall Reed (Oklahoma 1921-California 2003)
USA, 1991
Bronze, h. 1 ¾ x w. 1 ¾ in.
Cincinnati Skirball Museum, Jewish-American Hall of Fame Collection, gift of Mel and Esther Wacks, Debra Wacks, and Shari Wacks, 2019.7.45

Born in New York City, Henry Benjamin Greenberg was known as “Hammerin’ Hank” due to his powerful ability to hit the ball. Greenberg was a major league baseball player who spent most of his career playing for the Detroit Tigers. He won the American League’s Most Valuable Player award in 1935 and 1940 and barely missed Babe Ruth’s fabled record of 60 home runs when he hit 58 in 1938. As the first Jewish baseball star, Greenberg faced racial slurs from fans and opponents alike. He declined to play in an important game on Yom Kippur in 1934, and Edgar Guest published a poem referring to this choice, stating: “We shall miss him on the infield and shall miss him at the bat, but he’s true to his religion—and I honor him for that.” Greenberg served in the US Army during World War II; he began his military service at the peak of his baseball career in 1941, and ultimately served for 47 months. Greenberg rejoined the Tigers after his Army service ended in 1945, and he hit a home run in his first game back. The man that Joe DiMaggio called “one of the truly great hitters” was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956.