Hank Greenberg
| Birthdate | 1/1/1911 |
| Death Date | 9/4/1986 |
| Debut Year | 1930 |
| Year of Induction | 1956 |
| Teams | Pirates, Tigers |
| Positions | Executive, First Base, Left Field |
1940 MVP Hank Greenberg played in only 19 games from 1941-1944. He served 47 months in the military, all during his playing career.
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Hank Greenberg's 8 seasons prior to his military service in WWI were historically great
Hank Greenberg's 8 seasons prior to his military service in WWI were historically great
Hank Greenberg broke in with a one-game cup of coffee for the Detroit Tigers in 1930. His next big league appearance came three years later when he became the club’s everyday first baseman.
From 1933-1940 Greenberg forged his Hall of Fame resume. In those eight year he hit .326 with a .418 on-base percentage and a .625 slugging mark. Greenberg averaged 103 runs scored, 39 doubles, 31 homers, and 124 RBI per season. Looking at analytics, Greenberg’s 161 OPS+ helped him post six campaigns of at least 5.2 WAR, five of them over 6.3.
Along with a pair of MVP Awards, Greenberg topped all AL hitters in homers and RBI three times each. In 1937 he drove in 184 runs. That total has been surpassed only by Hack Wilson in 1930 (195), and Lou Gehrig in 1931 (185). The following season Greenberg slammed 58 home runs, a total previously surpassed only by Babe Ruth’s 60 in 1927.
The second of Greenberg’s MVP seasons came in 1940 when he led the league in doubles (50), homers (41), RBI (150), slugging percentage (.670), OPS (1.103), and total bases (384). In his 19th game in 1941 Greenberg slugged two home runs. The next day he was inducted into the Army for the war effort.
Over the next 4 1/2 years Greenberg rose to the rank of captain. He next played a big league game on July 1, 1945. The slugger appeared in 78 games that year and produced a slash line of .311/.404/.544 with a 166 OPS+. In 1946 Greenberg led the AL in homers (44) and RBI (127) while finishing second only to Ted Williams in slugging percentage.
After they were unable to come to terms, the Tigers traded Greenberg to the Pirates in 1947. In his final MLB season Greenberg led the league in walks (104), was 7th in on-base percentage (.408), and 8th in home runs.
The image above shows Greenberg’s 1977 response to Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson about joining the Babe Ruth Advisory Board. Hank agreed to lend his name, writing, “Please send me a formal application as I would like to make a contribution”.
In 1937 Hank Greenberg became the 6th player with 200 hits and 100 going for extra bases
In 1937 Hank Greenberg became the 6th player with 200 hits and 100 going for extra bases
Hank Greenberg’s 1937 season was his finest. The Detroit star posted car 200 hits, 103 of them for extra bases. By reaching 200/100, he joined an elite group of the game’s greatest players.
Babe Ruth was the first to reach the two single-season milestone marks in one campaign. In 1921 hit 44 doubles, 16 triples, 59 homers to total 119 extra-base knocks. His overall hit total stood at 204.
Rogers Hornsby duplicated the feat the following year. In the first of his record-tying three seasons with a .400 average. With 42 homers and 152 RBI, Hornsby also secured the Triple Crown. Ruth’s teammate Lou Gehrig made it a trio of Hall of Famers when 117 of his 218 hits went for extra bases. The Iron Horse did it again three years later, the same year that the Phillies Chuck Klein recorded the rare numbers. In 1932 Klein repeated to join Gehrig as the only men to accomplish it twice.
The ’32 campaign was a special one in Philadelphia as Klein and Jimmie Foxx each reached the milestone numbers. The only man to go 200/100 the following decade was Stan Musial in 1948. Baseball waited more than a half-century to see the feat accomplished again before Colorado’s Todd Helton did it in 2000.
Greenberg’s 1937 campaign featured 184 RBI, the third-most in baseball history. He walked 102 times, scored 137 runs, and slugged .668 thanks to 49 doubles, 14 triples, and 40 home runs.
Shown here is an autographed photo of Babe Ruth, the first man with 200 hits and 100 extra-base knocks in a single season.
When Jackie Robinson broke in Greenberg publicly welcomed and embraced him
When Jackie Robinson broke in Greenberg publicly welcomed and embraced him
Hank Greenberg was baseball’s first Jewish superstar. Throughout his career he was the subject of anti-semitic slurs from opponents and fans. In the face of it all Greenberg stood tall. An article written by Jordan Cohn on the Hall of Fame’s website called Greenberg, “a model of peaceful strength and resistance against the often hateful and oppressive baseball fans.”
Greenberg’s final MLB season, and his only as a National Leaguer, coincided with Jackie Robinson’s first year in the majors. After experiencing hate and discrimination, Greenberg had some insight into what Robinson was facing, and opening embraced and encouraged the Dodger rookie.
The two men first met on the baseball diamond on May 15, 1947 at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field. Greenberg was outraged at the racial epithets hurled Robinson’s way.
In the top of the third inning Robinson layed down a bunt. As he reached first base he and first baseman Greenberg collided. When Greenberg walked in the next half inning, he met Robinson who played first base for the Dodgers.
According to the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle, Greenberg asked Robinson if he was had been hurt in the earlier collision. After Robinson assured Greenberg he was just fine, Hank said, “Don’t pay any attention to these guys who are trying to make it hard for you. Stick in there. You’re doing fine. Keep your chin up.”
Following the game, Robinson was quoted in the newspapers as saying, “Class tells. It sticks out all over Mr. Greenberg.”
Shown above is a Robinson’s signature in the form of a personal check.
When he retired, Greenberg's 25 home runs were the most by a player in his final season
When he retired, Greenberg's 25 home runs were the most by a player in his final season
In Hank Greenberg’s final big league season of 1947 he smashed 25 home runs. At that time, the total marked the highest in MLB history in a player’s final season.
Greenberg remained the record-holder until Ted Williams slugged 29 round-trippers in 1960 then hung up his spikes. Since then a handful of other players have eclipsed Greenberg. Among them are Dave Kingman who slammed 35 homers in 1986, Mark McGwire who hit 29 in 2001, Barry Bonds with 28 in 2007, and David Ortiz who swatted 38 in 2016.
In the collection is this Major League Baseball Players Association document. Teddy Ballgame has filled it out entirely in his hand, lending his signature to the top.
The document reads in part, “In order to have the Association act on matters important to you and the Association itself we would appreciate your stating any opinions or suggestions you may have. These opinions and suggestions will be treated with the upmost confidence and will be categorized and analyzed.”
Interestingly, Williams suggests playing double headers as two 7-inning contests. More importantly the eagle-eyed Red Sox hitter writes, “Improve Baltimore, Chicago & KC backgrounds, check intensity of lights in the older parks”.
After retiring as a player, Hank Greenberg took a Cleveland front office position
After retiring as a player, Hank Greenberg took a Cleveland front office position
Immediately after leaving the game as a player Hank Greenberg took a front-office position with the Cleveland Indians as Bill Veeck‘s farm director. When Veeck sold the team in 1949 new owner Ellis Ryan promoted Greenberg to General Manager.
As GM was responsible for negotiating contract with the Cleveland players. Shown here is a contract offering Hall of Fame hurler Bob Lemon $40,000 for the 1953 season. The pitcher turned down Greenberg’s offer and eventually signed for $45,000.
Another page of the contract is below.
In his position as General Manager, Greenberg signed many of the player contracts
In his position as General Manager, Greenberg signed many of the player contracts
Shown here is the signature page of the contract offering Bob Lemon $40,000 for the 1953 season. As Indians GM, Greenberg signed it and sent it to the pitcher.
Lemon was in the midst of a run that included 7 straight All Star selections. The right-hander won 20 or more games 6 times from 1948-1955 and let the league in victories three times. In ’52, the year before this contract, Lemon won 22 games, posted a 2.50 ERA, and led the league in innings, starts, and complete games.
After making $40,000 for his performance, Lemon sought a raise and turned down Greenberg’s offer. He ended up signing for $45,000, the top amount he made in a single season. This piece originates from his estate. Interestingly, Lemon lived at the listed address in Long Beach until he died.
In 1990 Cecil Fielder joined Hank Greenberg as the second Tiger to hit 50 homers
In 1990 Cecil Fielder joined Hank Greenberg as the second Tiger to hit 50 homers
Detroit’s Hank Greenberg hit 58 home runs in 1938. At that time only Babe Ruth slammed more homers in a single season. Greenberg remained the only Tiger to reach the 50-homer plateau for another half-century.
In 1990 the Tigers signed 6’3″, 230-pound slugger Cecil Fielder. A veteran of four big league seasons as a part-time player, Feidler spent 1989 in Japan. As the everyday first baseman for the Hanshin Tigers Fielder slugged 38 home runs in 106 games. After the performance, Detroit gambled on the big man and signed him to a two-year, $3M contract.
Fielder responded by slamming 51 home runs in his first Motown campaign. Fifty-two years after Greenberg set the team record with 58 dingers, the Tigers 50-homer club added a second member.
Shown here is a signed book photo of Fielder walking on the Tiger Stadium roof with a bat in his hand and a cigar in his mouth.
