I can not tell you how good this makes me feel...
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For reasons explained in earlier post, I am delighted that the Bronx Bombers, playing in the House that Ruth Built, replete with pin-stripes, cash-loaded, with a half-crazy owner --- lost --- especially to the Detroit Tigers.
Hank Greenberg ("Hammerin' Hank") was a mythic hero to Jews of my time. He played for the Detroit Tigers.
As he approached Babe Ruth's legendary record of 60 home runs in a 154 game series, he received death threats from people who did not want The Bambino's record broken. (Although, as it turns out, The Babe --- for whom the candy bar Baby Ruth was named --- likely had some African "blood-lines.")
Greenberg was not religious but opted to sit out the game played on Yom Kippur --- to show who he was, and that he was not ashamed of who he was. He changed the way Americans thought about Jews.
There's that Sports and Society theme that intrigues me.
(Now, that's not who I was, then. I was on the first Hobart College soccer team --- in 1953. The home opener was on Yom Kippur. I and another Jewish player on the team, asked the coach if could be postponed. Of course, it could not be. So I played, Right Halfback, and so did my co-religionist. Later, I played goalie occasionally.I would probably act the same way now.)
Greenberg volunteered to serve in the military during World War II. I believe he saw combat duty and served with distinction.
He came back from the the war, and was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and along with Ralph Kiner (married to tennis star Nancy Chafee). Greenberg and Kiner formed a kind of mini-Murderer's Row --- my, we have nice nicknames. They pounded out HR after HR.
Later, he married Carol Gimble, as in Macy' and Gimble's --- See Miracle on 34th Street.
A wonderful documentary about Greenberg was a produced a few years ago. It is well worth seeing.
He died at a fairly young age. But he left his mark.
Ben
For reasons explained in earlier post, I am delighted that the Bronx Bombers, playing in the House that Ruth Built, replete with pin-stripes, cash-loaded, with a half-crazy owner --- lost --- especially to the Detroit Tigers.
Hank Greenberg ("Hammerin' Hank") was a mythic hero to Jews of my time. He played for the Detroit Tigers.
As he approached Babe Ruth's legendary record of 60 home runs in a 154 game series, he received death threats from people who did not want The Bambino's record broken. (Although, as it turns out, The Babe --- for whom the candy bar Baby Ruth was named --- likely had some African "blood-lines.")
Greenberg was not religious but opted to sit out the game played on Yom Kippur --- to show who he was, and that he was not ashamed of who he was. He changed the way Americans thought about Jews.
There's that Sports and Society theme that intrigues me.
(Now, that's not who I was, then. I was on the first Hobart College soccer team --- in 1953. The home opener was on Yom Kippur. I and another Jewish player on the team, asked the coach if could be postponed. Of course, it could not be. So I played, Right Halfback, and so did my co-religionist. Later, I played goalie occasionally.I would probably act the same way now.)
Greenberg volunteered to serve in the military during World War II. I believe he saw combat duty and served with distinction.
He came back from the the war, and was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, and along with Ralph Kiner (married to tennis star Nancy Chafee). Greenberg and Kiner formed a kind of mini-Murderer's Row --- my, we have nice nicknames. They pounded out HR after HR.
Later, he married Carol Gimble, as in Macy' and Gimble's --- See Miracle on 34th Street.
A wonderful documentary about Greenberg was a produced a few years ago. It is well worth seeing.
He died at a fairly young age. But he left his mark.
Ben
posted by Ben Wattenberg at 6:13 PM
1 Comments:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hank_Greenberg
Link on Hank
Very nice post. There is some many bloggers reflecting on tiger greats. What about our fans voting Ty Cobb our Local Hero? Is Hank a better choice? Go Tigers! God Bless You Boys!
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