The hero of heroes and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Jewish baseball news invited author and jbn contributor ron kaplan to write about his new book on hank greenberg and how it came together. He built american international group aig from a secondrate insurer with a great chinese franchise into one of the worlds most profitable companies. Qa with author of new book on hank greenberg historic 38. Greenbergs most popular book is greenbergs guide to lionel trains, 19011942. Kurlansky has interviewed members of the greenberg family, as he also places his story in a broader cultural context. It takes place mostly in the poor parts of new york and detroit. But hank greenberg, the guy who started all of this mess by monkeying with shady reinsurance deals and signing off on the banks incredibly irresponsible bookmaking during the. This autobiography of hank greenberg tells of one of the most dynamic and inspiring stories in the history of baseball. For nearly forty years, maurice hank greenberg was one of the most powerful ceos in america. The joy of a biography is in the subject and the quality of the writing. Its an easy, quick autobiography filled out somewhat by ira berkow after hank passed away.
Yet, as kurlansky writes, he was the quintessential secular jew, and to celebrate him for his loyalty to religious observance is to ignore who this man was. For nearly 40 years, maurice hank greenberg was one of the most powerful ceos in america. Hatred and home runs in the shadow of war out april 25 via sports. Baseball legend hank greenberg is remembered not only for hard hitting and an imposing physical presence, but for bravery in facing down bigots who resented the jewish athletes ethnicity. Hatred and home runs in the shadow of war in new york journal of books. The hero who didnt want to be one, his decision wasnt really a religious one.
Hankus spankus, the home run king and hall of famer. Hank greenberg, pete gray, and the great days of baseball on the home front in wwii. Four years earlier, greenberg had refused to play on yom kippur, but, as mark kurlansky tells us in the prologue to his new biography hank greenberg. Jan 29, 20 in his new book, the aig story, the man who ran the worlds largest insurer, maurice hank greenberg settles scores with the u. The remarkable life story of the first jewish superstar athlete, by new york times bestselling author mark kurlansky one of the reasons baseball fans so love the sport is that it involves certain physical acts of beauty. The value in rons book is his personal perspective of the sweep of the story.
May 07, 20 with his decision to sit out a 1934 game between his tigers and the new york yankees because it fell on yom kippur, hank greenberg became a hero to jews throughout america. The american baseball star hank greenberg, celebrated in the 1930s and 1940s for his powerful batting and multiple homeruns, was baseballs first legendary jewish player. With his decision to sit out a 1934 game between his tigers and the new york yankees because it fell on yom kippur, hank greenberg became a hero to jews. Maurice raymond hank greenberg born may 4, 1925 is an american business executive and former chairman and chief executive officer of american international group aig, which was the worlds 18th largest public company and the largest insurance and financial services corporation in history he is currently chairman and chief executive officer of c. About the author mark kurlansky has written, edited, or contributed to twenty books, which have been translated into twentyfive languages and won numerous prizes. Playing for an uninspired tigers team that spent most of the season struggling to.
How hank greenberg took on hitler in the summer of 1938 az. Maurice raymond hank greenberg born may 4, 1925 is an american business executive and former chairman and chief executive officer of american international group aig, which was the worlds 18th largest public company and the largest insurance and financial services corporation in history. Jan 24, 2020 from vintage detroit in his 1989 autobiography edited by ira berkow, hank greenberg. Hank greenberg was born hyman greenberg on january 1, 1911, in greenwich village, new york city, to romanianborn jewish immigrant parents david and sarah greenberg, who owned a successful clothshrinking plant in new york. Hank greenberg, byname of henry benjamin greenberg, also called hammerin hank, born january 1, 1911, bronx, new york, u. Greenbergs biographer explains why that never wound up happening.
None, however, had brought together the unique combination of factors that made 1938 a turning point in baseball and world history. Born henry benjamin greenberg in new york city, new york, he attended james monroe high. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. In his new book, the aig story, the man who ran the worlds largest insurer, maurice hank greenberg settles scores with the u. As ron kaplan recounts in his new book, hank greenberg in 1938. Qa with author of new book on hank greenberg historic 38 season. In the 1930s, as the first great jewish baseball player, he was a pariah to some and a paladin to others including ira berkow.
Jonathan eig, author of luckiest man and opening day hank greenberg in 1938 is an important book for its subject, its time and its place. On the one hand, they tell us that the author is a. Hank s iconic status made his personal dilemmas with religion versus team and ambition versus duty national debates. Hank greenberg, pete gray, and the great days of baseball on the home front in wwii, thomas dunne books, new york, ny, 2015. From vintage detroit in his 1989 autobiography edited by ira berkow, hank greenberg. How hank greenberg took on hitler in the summer of 1938. Hank greenberg society for american baseball research. Hank greenberg in 1938 book by ron kaplan official. If youre a fan of baseball or look up to hank greenberg in any way, give it a read, as i did. Once in a great while there appears a baseball player who transcends the ga. Mar 31, 2016 with its big jewish population, new york would have seemed the perfect place for legendary baseball star hank greenberg to play. New book sheds light on hammerin hank greenberg vintage detroit. Hank greenberg credited tigers 1940 pennant to sign.
Buried, hillside memorial park, culver city, ca gender. Hank greenberg wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Hatred and home runs in the shadow of war, it was going to be a fairly straightforward look at his assault on one of the biggest records in sports, sprinkled with a bit of pop culture. He was a fivetime allstar, was twice named the american leagues most valuable player, and was elected to the hall of fame in 1956.
His calm by mark kurlansky published march 29, 2011 192 pages a graceful appreciation usa today one of the reasons baseball fans so love the sport is that it involves certain physical acts of beauty. Hank greenberg admits to aig sham and settles fraud suit. A former counsel to the new york state attorney general, general counsel to a major new york state agency and federal prosecutor, hank has handled numerous highprofile matters. Rosengren has penned several sports book, and when the minneapolisbased authors hank greenberg. There were already at least 10 books about the detroit tigers slugger, as well as aviva kempers awardwinning documentary, the life and times of hank greenberg. Hank greenberg was born on sunday, january 1, 1911, in new york, new york. Wall street titan takes aim at law that tripped him up. The story of my life times books, published three years after the sluggers death, greenberg freely admitted to stealing signs beginning in early september of 1940 and credits that as one main reason detroit won the pennant. Greenberg, known as hank, is a revered figure on wall street who built the american international group into. Ethan harvey do you adore baseball and love inspiring stories. The story of my life and millions of other books are. Hero of heroes captures legacy of hank greenberg, the. Greenberg, known as hank, is a revered figure on wall street who built the american international group into an insurance giant, only to lose.
Greenberg installed as nysba president for 201920 new. New york yankees because it fell on yom kippur, hank greenberg became a. Be the first to ask a question about hank greenberg. Hank greenberg by mark kurlansky overdrive rakuten.
Hank greenberg serves as president of the new york state bar association, the largest voluntary state bar association in the nation. Why hank greenberg never became a new york yankee the forward. Hank greenberg credited tigers 1940 pennant to sign stealing. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Rons tale of hank greenberg and aig is a rare opportunity for a personal look inside the history of an american and global business legend. This business classic written by longtime new yorker contributor john brooks is an insightful and engaging look into corporate and financial life in america. It is the highest honor of my professional life to be president of an association with such a proud history of serving. Greenberg has 27 books on goodreads with 27 ratings. The hero of heroes rosengren pens a textured taleof henry greenberg, the moses of baseball.
Hank greenberg goodreads meet your next favorite book. Hank greenberg, nicknamed hammerin hank and the hebrew hammer, was an american professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. Kaplan, however, set out to bring together the unique combination of factors that made 1938 a turning point in baseball and world history. Perhaps the level of recognition will change somewhat now that a new book has hit. Just 11 years earlier, babe ruth who had saved baseball in the wake of the 1919 black sox scandal with his oversized personality. The son of eastern european parents, he rose from the streets of new york to rank among the greatest homerun hitters of the game, and became the first jewish player to be elected to the hall of fame. Hatred and home runs in the shadow of war sports publishing, were given a time capsule that recounts the entire 38 baseball season from a greenberg fans perspective, touching on the antisemitism he faced, the pressure of the home run chase, and the backdrop of a europe on the brink. Mar 29, 2011 though hank greenberg was one of the first players to challenge babe ruths singleseason record of sixty home runs, it was the game greenberg did not play for which he is best remembered.
Though hank greenberg was one of the first players to challenge babe ruths singleseason record of sixty home runs, it was the game greenberg did not play for which he is best remembered. Larry tye, new york times bestselling author of satchel. In some ways, hank greenberg is the forgotten tiger great. This article was published in the spring 2012 baseball research journal according to the american leagues official records, hank greenberg amassed a total of 1,202 runs batted in during his junior circuit career, which was spent entirely with the detroit tigers and spanned the 17year period from 1930 through 1946. Wall street titan takes aim at law that tripped him up the.
New york times bestselling author mark kurlansky delivers the compelling life story of hank greenberg, the first jewish player elected into the baseball hall of fame. Selected as one of motley fools 5 great books you should read. The buffalo law journal reported on president greenberg taking over as president and his diversity initiative. It is a memoir about hank greenberg who was the first jewish baseball player to be inducted into the hall of fame. Hank greenberg, home runs and war in 1938 april 25, 2017 tuesday note to readers. New york times bestselling author mark kurlansky delivers the compelling life story of hank greenberg, the first jewish player elected into.
The book is of interest to anyone who loves vintage america during its entertainment heyday, depression years, and success stories of folks from modest background who have risen to hall of fame heights. The book focuses quite a bit on the contrast of greenbergs own secularism with his fame as jewish athlete. A quick, but interesting biography of hank greenberg the first major jewish baseball star. In a shocking end to a nearly 12year legal battle, insurance industry legend maurice hank greenberg on friday admitted he initiated, participated in and approved two sham transactions.
In those 26 words, greenberg enables the reader to understand much of what is good and everything that is bad about his book. Hank greenberg is an intimate account of his lifea story of integrity and triumph over adversity and a portrait of one of the greatest baseball players. New york times writer ira berkow presents a compelling account of the life and career of hank greenberg, the first jewish ballplayer to be elected to the national baseball hall of fame. Nicknamed hammerin hank, for thirteen seasons 1930, 1933 to 1941, 1945 to 1947, he played at the firstbase and outfielder positions with the detroit tigers and pittsburgh pirates. When i first began work on my new book, hank greenberg in 1938.
How hank greenberg took on hitler in the summer of 1938 i came to feel that if i, as a jew, hit a home run, i was hitting one against hitler, his new biographer quotes hall of famer saying. New york journal of books ron kaplan does firstrate work, giving us a deeper appreciation of one of baseballs most thriling performances. With the detroit tigers from 1933 to 1947, and with the pittsburgh pirates for the last year of his playing career, greenberg led the american league four times in home runs. And one of the most beautiful sights in the history of baseball was hank greenberg s swing. There were already at least 10 books about the detroit tigers slugger, as well as aviva kempners awardwinning documentary, the life and times of hank greenberg. The tigers were in a tight pennant race with games scheduled for rosh hashanah and yom kippur. Jul 12, 1989 theres no question that greenberg lived a life worth examination. So i was excited to read a new biography about hank greenberg, americas first jewish baseball star. Hank greenbergs american league rbi record society for. His calm by mark kurlansky published march 29, 2011 192 pages a graceful appreciation usa today one of the reasons baseball fans so love the sport. The hero of heroes new american library hits next week, hell be hosting numerous.
A unique insider view into the recent aig crisis and hank greenberg. Hatred and home runs in the shadow of war, skyhorse publishing, sports publishing llc, new york, ny, 2017. Hatred and home runs in the shadow of war out april 25 via sports publishing, an imprint of skyhorse publishing, inc. Honestly, i enjoyed the documentary the life and times of hank greenberg a bit more, but this is a sound telling of his life in his own words. The story of my life and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Greenberg was a hero to jews in america in the 30s and 40s and beyond, not just for being a great baseball player but for sitting out a regular. Greenberg was 19 years old when he broke into the big leagues on september 14, 1930, with the detroit tigers.
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