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Hammerin' Hank Greenberg: Baseball Pioneer

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Hammerin' Hank Greenberg: Baseball Pioneer

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Hardcover
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Overview

Sydney Taylor Honor Book

Learn all about tthe first Jewish baseball hall-of-famer, Hank Greenberg, in this thought-provoking biography for young readers.

Hank Greenberg battled anti-Semitism on and off the field. Raised in New York City, he was the son of Romanian-Jewish immigrants, served during World War II, and then had a long career as a baseball player with the Detroit Tigers—where the moniker Hammerin' Hank came to life—and later as a baseball executive. Readers will experience the prejudice Greenberg endured, even as he made his way into the annals of baseball history: two-time American League MVP, 331 home runs, and first Jewish baseball player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Archival photos add to the appeal of this Sydney Taylor Honor Book.

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781590784525
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	03/01/2011
Pages:	136
Product dimensions:	7.80(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.70(d)
Lexile:	1080L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 17 Years

About the Author

Shelley Sommer is a teacher and the director of the Inly School Library in Scituate, Massachusetts Prior to that, she worked for the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. She received her master's degree in children's literature from Simmons College. After marrying a lifelong Red Sox fan in 1986, she became a proud member of Red Sox Nation and now considers herself a fan of both the Red Sox and Hank Greenberg's Detroit Tigers.

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Editorial Reviews

"A multilayered portrait."—Kirkus Reviews

"An excellent choice for kids who enjoy delving into baseball history."—Booklist

"Sommer skillfully places Greenberg's career in the context of the Great Depression, World War II and Jackie Robinson's pioneering efforts as the first black major leaguer."—San Fransisco Chronicle

From the Publisher

Gr 4–8—Sommer offers a well-rounded account of the Hall of Famer's life and career. She opens with the famous on-field encounter in 1947 when Greenberg, in his final season, offered words of encouragement to the rookie Jackie Robinson. As a pioneering Jewish sports star, the veteran player faced prejudice throughout his years in the major leagues. The author includes plenty of interesting historical detail. Greenberg spent most of his career in Detroit, home to the "Radio Priest," Father Charles Coughlin, who frequently targeted Jews in his mean-spirited sermons. Greenberg's career peaked during the Great Depression; in 1938, he hit 58 home runs and came within two runs of tying Babe Ruth's single-season record. Black-and-white pictures add to the book's appeal: one, from 1946, depicts Greenberg and Boston great Ted Williams with a young John F. Kennedy. Another charming photo shows Greenberg ruefully pushing a wheelbarrow full of vegetables that fans had thrown onto the field before a championship game. Sommer concludes with tributes to the player following his death in 1986. Straightforward narrative and fascinating historical detail combine to make this an engaging introduction to a significant ballplayer and his times.—Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA

School Library Journal

Hank Greenberg was an anomaly who challenged the stereotypes of his era. He was a Jewish boy from New York City who was neither weak nor small nor academically inclined. He was well over 6 feet tall, strong and healthy, and he could hit a baseball as well as or better than most major leaguers. He played with the Detroit Tigers, leading his team to several pennants and World Series. Throughout his career there were cheers, but he also had to endure endless, vitriolic anti-Semitic curses. His decision to miss a season-ending game in a tight pennant race in order to observe Yom Kippur became a national issue. At the end of his own career, with customary grace and integrity, he openly empathized with rookie Jackie Robinson, encouraging him to persevere. In many ways this is a typical baseball biography, covering Greenberg's accomplishments season by season, as well as his family life and military service in World War II. Sommer ably puts it all in perspective for young readers. Employing straightforward, accessible language, she carefully incorporates historic events, well illustrated with personal and archival photographs and laced with copious quotes from Greenberg and his contemporaries. The result is a multilayered portrait of a man who was content being remembered as a great Jewish ballplayer. (source notes, bibliography, resources) (Biography. 10-14)

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