Hank Greenberg Biography
Hank Greenberg was an American professional baseball player and team executive, he was born on January 1, 1911, in Greenwich Village, New York, the United States as Henry Benjamin Greenberg and died on September 4, 1986, in Beverly Hills, California, United States. Hank played in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily for the Detroit Tigers as a first baseman in the 1930s and 1940s.
A member of the Baseball Hall of Fame and a 2-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award winner, Hank was one of the premier power hitters of his generation as well as is widely considered as one of the greatest sluggers in baseball history.
Hank had 47 months of military service including service in World War II, all of which took place during what would have been prime years in his major league career. He played the first twelve of his 13 major league seasons for Detroit. Hank was an American League (AL) All-Star for four seasons and an AL MVP in the year 1935 (first baseman) and 1940 (left fielder).
Hank had a batting average of over .three hundred in eight seasons and won two World Series championships with the Tigers (1935 and 1945). Hank was the AL home run leader four times and his 58 home runs for the Tigers in the year 1938 equaled Jimmie Foxx’s 1932 mark for the most in one season by anyone other than Babe Ruth and tied Foxx for the most home runs between Ruth’s record 60 in the year 1927 and Roger Maris’ record 61 in 1961.
Hank was the first major league player to hit 25 or more home runs in a season in each league as well as remains the AL record-holder for most runs batted in in a single season by a right-handed batter (183 in 1937, a 154-game schedule).
Hank’s career statistics would have certainly been higher had he not served in the armed services during wartime. In the year 1947, Hank signed a contract for a record $85,000 salary before being sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where Hank played his final MLB season that year. After retiring from playing, he continued to work in baseball as a team executive for the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox.
Hank was the first Jewish superstar in American team sports. Hank attracted national attention in the year 1934 in the middle of a pennant race when he had to decide whether to play baseball on two major Jewish holidays; after consultation with his rabbi, Hank agreed to play on Rosh Hashanah, but on Yom Kippur, he spent the day at his synagogue, even though he was not particularly observant religiously.
Having endured his share of anti-semitic abuse in his career, Hank was one of the few opposing players to publicly welcome African-American player Jackie Robinson to the major leagues in the year 1947.
Hank Greenberg Age
Hank died at 75 years old, he was born on January 1, 1911, in Greenwich Village, New York, the United States as Henry Benjamin Greenberg and died on September 4, 1986, in Beverly Hills, California, United States.
Hank Greenberg Education
Hank attended James Monroe High School in the Bronx, where Hank was an outstanding all-around athlete as well as was bestowed with the long-standing nickname of “Bruggy” by his basketball coach. Hank’s preferred sport was baseball, and his preferred position was first base. In high school basketball, Hank was on the Monroe team that won the city championship.
In 1929, the 18-year-old 6-foot-4-inch Hank was recruited by the New York Yankees, who already had Lou Gehrig at first base. Hank turned them down and instead attended New York University for a year, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Mu, after which Hank signed with the Detroit Tigers for $9,000 ($138,000 today).
Hank Greenberg Family
Greenberg was born to Romanian-born Jewish immigrant parents David and Sarah Greenberg, who owned a successful cloth-shrinking plant in New York. He had two brothers, Ben, four years older, and Joe, five years younger, who also played baseball, and a sister, Lillian, two years older. His family moved to the Bronx when he was about seven.
Hank Greenberg Spouse
Hank married Caral Gimbel (daughter of Bernard Gimbel of the Gimbel’s New York department store family) on February 18, 1946, 3 days after signing a $60,000 ($787,000 today) contract with the Tigers.
The couple had 3 children—sons Glenn H. Greenberg and Stephen and a daughter, Alva—before divorcing in the year 1958. Their son, Stephen, played 5 years in the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers organization.
In the year 1995, Stephen Greenberg co-founded Classic Sports Network with Brian Bedol, which was purchased by ESPN as well as became ESPN Classic. Hank also was the chairman of CSTV, the first cable network devoted exclusively to college sports.
In 1966, Hank married Mary Jo Tarola, a minor actress who appeared on-screen as Linda Douglas, and remained with her until his death, they had no children. Hank died of metastatic kidney cancer in Beverly Hills, California, in the year 1986, as well as his remains were entombed at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, in Culver City, California.
Hank Greenberg Children
Hank and Caral had three youngsters—children Glenn H. Greenberg and Stephen and a little girl, Alva. Their child, Stephen, played five years in the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers organization. In 1995, Stephen Greenberg helped to establish Classic Sports Network with Brian Bedol, which was obtained by ESPN and moved toward becoming ESPN Classic.
He likewise was the administrator of CSTV, the principal link system dedicated only to school sports. Hank has a grandson Spencer Greenberg who is an AI researcher and Wall Street, entrepreneur.
Hank Greenberg Net Worth
Hank had an estimated net worth of $50 million dollars. This includes his assets, money, and income. His primary source of income is his career as a professional baseball player and team executive. Through his various sources of income, Hank has been able to accumulate good fortune but prefers to lead a modest lifestyle.
Hank Greenberg Death
Greenberg kicked the bucket of metastatic kidney malignant growth in Beverly Hills, California, in 1986, and his remaining parts were buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery, in Culver City, California.
Hank Greenberg Honours
-All-Star (AL), 1937–1940.
-Most Valuable Player (AL), 1935 and 1940.
-National Baseball Hall of Fame, 1956 (First player of Jewish descent elected to the Hall of Fame garnering 85% of the votes)
-Sunday, June 12, 1983: The Detroit Tigers retired Greenberg’s uniform number 5 during “Greenberg-Gehringer Day” at Tiger Stadium (former teammate Charlie Gehringer’s uniform number 2 was also retired). Both Greenberg and Gehringer attended the ceremony.
-1999: Major League Baseball All-Century Team nominee (he ranked Number 37 on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Baseball Players).
-Associated Press All-Star (AL), 1945.
-International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 1979.
-Jewish American Hall of Fame, 1991.
-Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, 1958.
-National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 1996
Frequently Asked Questions About Hank Greenberg
Who is Hank Greenberg?
Hank was an American professional baseball player and team executive.
How old is Hank Greenberg?
Hank died at 75 years old on September 4, 1986, in Beverly Hills, California, United States.
Is Hank Greenberg married?
Hank was married to Linda Douglas (m. 1966–1986), and Caral Gimbel (m. 1946–1958).
How much is Hank Greenberg worth?
Hank had an estimated net worth of $50 million dollars.
Is Hank Greenberg dead or alive?
Hank died on September 4, 1986, in Beverly Hills, California, United States.
Where is Hank Greenberg Now?
Hank died on September 4, 1986, in Beverly Hills, California, United States.
Hank Greenberg Social Media Contacts
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