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The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg is a 1998 documentary film directed, produced and written by Aviva Kempner about Hall of Fame first baseman Hank Greenberg of the Detroit Tigers. A Jewish player who chose not to play on Yom Kippur in 1934 during a heated pennant race, Greenberg experienced a great deal of antisemitism. He nearly broke Babe Ruth's 60 home run record by hitting 58 home runs in 1938.
Like many players of the era, Greenberg's career was interrupted by military service. Initially, Greenberg was classified unfit for service due to flat feet. However, upon re-examination, he was cleared. Before Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Congress released men over age 28. After the attack, Greenberg immediately reenlisted in the United States Army Air Forces.
In 1947, Hank Greenberg, as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates and playing his final season, was one of the few ballplayers to give the Brooklyn Dodgers' Jackie Robinson, the majors' first black player in many years, a warm welcome. Robinson later said, "Class tells. It sticks out all over Mr. Greenberg".
Original Release
10/14/1998
US Release
10/14/1998
Links
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Reeve Brenner | Self - interviewee |
| Hank Greenberg | Self |
| Walter Matthau | Self - interviewee |
| Alan Dershowitz | Self - interviewee |
| Carl Levin | Self - interviewee |
| Stephen Greenberg | Self - interviewee |
| Joseph Greenberg | Self - interviewee |
| Max Ticktin | Self - interviewee |
| Bill Mead | Self - interviewee |
| Lou Gehrig | Self |
Directors
Writers
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Reeve Brenner | Self - interviewee |
| Hank Greenberg | Self |
| Walter Matthau | Self - interviewee |
| Alan Dershowitz | Self - interviewee |
| Carl Levin | Self - interviewee |
| Stephen Greenberg | Self - interviewee |
| Joseph Greenberg | Self - interviewee |
| Max Ticktin | Self - interviewee |
| Bill Mead | Self - interviewee |
| Lou Gehrig | Self |
| Basil 'Mickey' Briggs | Self - interviewee |
| Don Shapiro | Self - interviewee |
| Bert Gordon | Self - interviewee |
| Joe Falls | Self - interviewee |
| Henry Ford | Self |
| Leo Ribuffo | Self - interviewee |
| Father Coughlin | Self |
| George Barahal | Self - interviewee |
| Ira Berkow | Self - interviewee |
| Harold Allen | Self - interviewee |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Aviva Kempner | Producer |
| Ari Daniel Pinchot | Producer |
