HANK ON FIRST!

An informative look at a Jewish sports legend.

Krensky follows Hank Greenberg’s baseball career from his early days to his stardom with the Detroit Tigers during the 1930s and 1940s. The author focuses particularly on Greenberg’s Jewish heritage and the antisemitism he confronted from both fans and fellow players. This story hinges on a famous episode in Greenberg’s career, when the American League pennant race coincided with the Jewish High Holy Days. After consulting a rabbi, Greenberg decided to play baseball on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, but to sit out Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, and attend services at his synagogue instead. The Tigers lost the game that day, but Greenberg’s legacy lives on. Bold, stylized illustrations will grab readers’ attention. Swirls of color convey movement as Greenberg slides through the dirt and hits home runs; white zigzags punctuate the “boos” he endures from bigoted audiences as he steps onto the field. Though the book doesn’t delve too deeply into Greenberg’s story, it gives just enough details to whet the appetite for more; both his commitment to his faith and his passion for the game come through clearly. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A compelling introduction to Hank Greenberg for a new generation of baseball fans.