In our countdown to America 250, we’ve highlighted Jewish pioneers in politics, entertainment, and culture throughout American history. But who paved the way for Jews in sports? That honor belongs to the first Jewish American sports superstar, Hank Greenberg — known as the “Hebrew Hammer” for his home run record, which was often compared to Babe Ruth’s.
Henry Greenberg was born in 1911 in New York City to Romanian Jewish immigrant parents. Growing up in the Bronx and attending James Monroe High School, Greenberg loved sports, but baseball was always his favorite. First base was his preferred position, and he was physically built for athletics, reaching 6’4” by the time he graduated at 18.
Greenberg made his major league debut in 1930 at just 19 years old, making him the youngest player in the league at the time. He moved between the major and minor leagues during his early years, winning the minor league Most Valuable Player Award in 1932 before becoming a Detroit Tigers mainstay in 1933. That season, he ranked third in the league in strikeouts.
In 1934, the Tigers reached their first World Series in 25 years. During that season, Greenberg led the league in doubles and ranked third in slugging percentage.
During the pennant race, Greenberg gained national attention when he announced that he would not play on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, which fell on September 10 and 19 that year. However, after hearing appeals from fans and discussing the matter with his rabbi, Greenberg decided to play on Rosh Hashanah after all. He hit two home runs against the Red Sox to help secure a Tigers victory. The next day, the Detroit Free Press featured the story on its front page with the Hebrew headline “Happy New Year.”
Detroit fans and the press were less enthusiastic when Greenberg chose not to play on Yom Kippur, instead attending synagogue while the Tigers lost to the Yankees before the World Series. However, Greenberg returned in 1935 for his MVP season and helped lead the Tigers to their first World Series championship against the Cubs. Around this time, he also became a regular American League All-Star selection.
Many believe Greenberg could have broken Babe Ruth’s home run record had he not joined the military. In 1940, Greenberg registered for the peacetime draft and reported to Fort Custer in Michigan. After the United States entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor, he volunteered for the Army Air Forces and was sent to China with the 20th Bomber Command of the 20th Air Force. He served for 47 months — longer than any other major league player — sacrificing the prime years of his career for his country.
Greenberg wasted no time helping the Tigers return to the World Series in 1945, once again facing the Cubs. He hit two of the three home runs in the seven-game series. In 1947, Greenberg played his final season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. By the end of his career, he still ranked among the league’s top sluggers. In 1956, he became the first Jewish player elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Throughout his career, Greenberg was no stranger to anti-Semitism. During the 1935 World Series, an umpire ejected three Cubs players for shouting anti-Jewish slurs at him. The umpire was later reprimanded by the commissioner for his actions. Such treatment from spectators and opposing players was common. Greenberg later said that he used the hatred directed at him because of his faith as motivation, especially in challenging the stereotype that Jews were not athletic and did not belong in sports.
“You’re doing fine. Keep your chin up,” Greenberg told Jackie Robinson at first base during a 1947 game. Greenberg was one of the few players to openly support Robinson as the first African American player in Major League Baseball.
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