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This is not the first time Steel playing first base. The following City sports has given Black-Jewish inning, Greenberg was walked and, relations a much needed shot in the arriving at first base, asked Robinarm. son if he had been hurt in the earlier The year was 1947. Hank Green- collision. berg, the legendary Jewish slugger According to a New York Times and longtime Detroit Tiger, had been report, Robinson assured Greentraded due to the reserve clause to berg that he hadn’t been, at which the Pittsburgh Pirates for what would point Greenberg said to Robinson, By Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove be his final season. Throughout his “Don’t pay any attention to these career, Greenberg had been subject- guys who are trying to make it hard ed to just about every anti-Semitic for you. Stick in there. You’re doing insult imaginable. fine. Keep your chin up.” FollowPlaying first base that day for the ing the game, Jackie told The New Brooklyn Dodgers was Jackie Rob- York Times, “Class tells. It sticks inson, the rookie who had recently out all over Mr. Greenberg.” broken Major League Baseball’s Robinson was deeply moved by color line. Days earlier, according the supportive words of Greenberg, to the Journal of Sport History, who was praised in the AfricanRobinson and his family had American press. The two men received threats on his life and that would remain friends into the years his infant son Jackie Jr. would be ahead — both giving testimony in kidnapped. Members of opposing Curt Flood’s 1972 historic Supreme teams sat in their dugouts pointing Court case on the aforementioned From left: Jackie Robinson (Hulton Archive/Getty Images); Hank Greenberg (Getty baseball bats at him — simulating reserve clause (the mechanism used Images); Zach Banner (Katharine Lotze/Getty Images); and DeSean Jackson (Carmen machine gun noises. The hotel in by teams to hold on to the rights of Mandato/Getty Images) which the Dodgers stayed refused players even after their contracts NEW YORK (JTA) — Pittsburgh backs of other people or by vilify- to admit Robinson. Not surprising- had expired). Steelers offensive tackle Zach Ban- ing Jews. ly, Robinson’s batting average had Who would have imagined that ner posted a video late last week in In Banner’s own words, “We can’t slumped and he was contemplating some 70 years after the Greenbergresponse to Philadelphia Eagles preach equality but in result we’re quitting. Robinson exchange, it would be an wide receiver DeSean Jackson’s just trying to flip the script and After laying down a perfect bunt anti-Semitic screed against Jews. change the hierarchy … Change your early in the game, Robinson collidSee FRIENDSHIP 15 on Page After describing his horror at the heart, put your arm around people, ed with Greenberg, who was also 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shoot- and let’s all uplift each other.” Happy New Year And An Easy ing, Banner preached that as imporIn the days since, Jackson has tant as the work of Black Lives both issued an apology and begun Fast To All My Family And Friends Matter may be, its achievements to engage with the Jewish commuIn The Jewish Community! cannot come by stepping on the nity.
What Hank Greenberg’s Friendship With Jackie Robinson Can Teach Us Today
- Franz Goodman Zibilich
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Re-Elect Judge Franz Zibilich Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, Section L
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