{"product_id":"hank-on-first-how-hank-greenberg-became-a-star-on-and-off-the-field-9781681155999","title":"Hank on First! How Hank Greenberg Became a Star on and Off the Field","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eA Junior Library Guild Selection\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eStory of MVP and Hall-of-Famer \"Hammerin\" Hank Greenberg, one of the greatest hitters of all time\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn 1934 young Hank Greenberg had his dream job--playing first base for the Detroit Tigers. \u003c\/b\u003eUnlike some other Jewish baseball players of that time, Hank had not changed his name to disguise his Jewishness--he was not going to pretend he was something he wasn't. But there were many people who did not want to see a Jewish baseball player on the field. They booed and jeered and called him names, and most of his teammates were just standing by and letting it happen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBut Hank knew what he liked--baseball. So he played his best, kept quiet, and let his batting average speak for him instead.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eIn 1934, however, when the Tigers were leading the league, both Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur fell on game days.\u003c\/b\u003e Hank consulted a local rabbi, and decided he could play on Rosh Hashanah, a day of celebration, but refused to play on Yom Kippur. He went to synagogue services instead.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Tigers lost that game, and Hank was blamed by many fans. A poem in the newspaper, however, recognized Hank's achievements and that, despite everything, more people were coming to accept him as a Jewish baseball player. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"We shall miss him on the field and shall miss him at the bat. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eBut he's true to his religion, and I honor him for that!\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn end note with historical photo explains more about Hank's baseball career as the first Jewish superstar in American team sports.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the face of prejudice, \"let it spur you on to greater achievement, rather than accept and be licked by it.\" --Hank Greenberg\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Apples \u0026amp; Honey Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/21\/2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781681155999\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 32\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.90lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 11.00h x 8.60w x 0.40d","brand":"Stephen Krensky","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42607907078325,"sku":"9781681155999","price":15.26,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_87df8046-d8d4-40c1-9a0d-d16965804b07.jpg?v=1674574035","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/hank-on-first-how-hank-greenberg-became-a-star-on-and-off-the-field-9781681155999","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}