{"product_id":"hank-on-first-how-hank-greenberg-became-a-star-on-and-off-the-field-by-stephen-krensky","title":"Hank on First! How Hank Greenberg Became a Star On and Off the Field by Stephen Krensky","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold a-text-italic\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA Junior Library Guild Selection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"a-text-bold\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStory of MVP and Hall-of-Famer \"Hammerin\" Hank Greenberg, one of the greatest hitters of all time, and the first  openly Jewish sports star.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn 1934 young Hank Greenberg had his dream job--playing first base for the Detroit Tigers.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\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\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBut Hank knew what he liked--baseball. So he played his best, kept quiet, and let his batting average speak for him instead.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn 1934, however, when the Tigers were leading the league, both Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur fell on game days.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\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\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\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\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"We shall miss him on the field and shall miss him at the bat. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBut he's true to his religion, and I honor him for that!\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAn end note with historical photo explains more about Hank's baseball career as the first Jewish superstar in American team sports.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn the face of prejudice, \"let it spur you on to greater achievement, rather than accept and be licked by it.\" --Hank Greenberg\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eages 5 - 8 years\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ING","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55896342266024,"sku":"xwx1787304940155","price":12.03,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/3246\/4808\/files\/hank-on-first-how-hank-greenberg-became-a-star-on-and-off-the-field-by-stephen-k_1.jpg?v=1787304946","url":"https:\/\/www.greenvalleycart.shop\/products\/hank-on-first-how-hank-greenberg-became-a-star-on-and-off-the-field-by-stephen-krensky","provider":"My Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}