Greenberg Re-enlists

 In May 1941 star Detroit Tigers ballplayer Hank Greenberg became one of the first players drafted into the U.S. Army.  Because the U.S. was still at peace, and the first American history peacetime draft so controversial, those drafted only served a few months.  Hank, who'd been promoted to sergeant in an anti-tank unit, was honorably discharged on December 5, 1941.  At 30 years old, Greenberg was looking forward to returning to baseball in 1942, along with his $55,000 salary, after missing all but 19 games in 1941 (instead of 55K for the 1941 season, he made $21 a month with the Army).  Hank's last full season in 1940 saw him whack 41 home runs, drive in 150, bat .340 and win the league's MVP Award. Over the four season from 1937 to 1940 he'd averaged 43 homers and 149 RBIs a year.

Two days after his discharge, Japan attacked the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.  Shortly thereafter, Greenberg announced his intention to re-enlist and was inducted into the Army Air Corps on February 1, 1942, becoming the first major league player to volunteer after Pearl Harbor (to be followed quickly by another of the great stars of that era, Bob Feller).  Hank issued this statement:

“This doubtless means I am finished with baseball, and it would be silly for me to say I do not leave it with a pang; but all of us are confronted with a terrible task – the defense of our country and the fight for our lives.”

"We are in trouble and there is only one thing for me to do - return to the service."

The Bible of Baseball, The Sporting News ran this story:

Back in the service, Greenberg attended Officers Candidate School in Fort Worth and then was assigned to run athletic programs and inspect various U.S. facilities.  Wanting to be closer to the action, now-Captain Greenberg requested transfer to a combat theater.  In early 1944 he was assigned to the 58th Bombardment Wing, the first group of B-29s to be deployed to China.  Flying the dangerous route over The Hump (the Himalayas) from India to China, Greenberg helped set up the base in Sichuan.  Returning to the States in late 1944, Hank was finally discharged on June 14, 1945.  He'd served 47 months on active service, more than any other major league player.

Two weeks later he was back in uniform, hitting a home run in his first game.  Over the remainder of the season, Hank hit 13 homers, drove in 60 and batted .311, capped by a ninth inning grand slam in the final game of the season to clinch the pennant for the Tigers.  In the World Series, Hank hit two more homers and Detroit won in six games. 

The next year Greenberg hit 44 more home runs and drove in another 127 runs.  He'd go on to be elected to the Hall of Fame and you can easily pencil in another 160 homers and 500 ribbies missing from his career total due to his wartime service.

Hank Greenberg, the son of immigrants, was also significant as the first 20th century Jewish superstar in baseball.  During the 1930s he'd borne anti-semitic hazing from some other players but handled it with grace.  Whether at the ballpark or serving his country he always did the right thing.