The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg has been remastered in 4K for a 25th anniversary re-release to mark 90 years since Greenberg took off on Yom Kippur in 1934.

When you’re a Jewish baseball fan, there are two players that you learn about early on: Hank Greenberg and Sandy Koufax. When my family visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2001, I chose to have my photo taken with their plaques. To be fair, I did not have a digital camera at the time. No photos with Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, or other icons like Lou Gehrig if you can believe it. Meanwhile, I’ve been wanting to rewatch this film for a while now but the library did not have a DVD nor was it available through digital retailers. Lucky for baseball fans and Greenberg fans in general, the film is back in theatrical release starting on September 20. The film will open first in Detroit before a slow nationwide expansion.

The original Hammerin’ Hank was idolized by many, including late actor Walter Matthau. Matthau does not play tennis but joined the Beverly Hills Tennis Club just because of Greenberg being a member–he had many lunches with him. Family members, friends, fans, and Tigers teammates are among the interviewees. Tigers teammates include Charlie Gehringer, Herman “Flea” Clifton, Billy Rogell, George “Birdie” Tebbetts, Eldon Auker, Harry Eisenstat, Hal Newhouser, and George Kell. Ralph Kiner is the sole Pittsburgh Pirates teammate on camera.

Ninety years after Hank Greenberg took his Yom Kippur stand, The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg remains a must-watch documentary for baseball fans. If the film leaves you wanting more, make sure to check out Hank Greenberg: The Hero of Heroes by John Rosengren.

For my full review, please head to Dugout Dirt.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Aviva Kempner
FEATURING: Hank Greenberg, Rabbi Reeve Brenner, Walter Matthau, Alan Dershowitz, Sen. Carl Levin, Stephen Greenberg, Joe Greenberg, Rabbi Max Ticktin, Bill Mead, Basil “Mickey” Briggs, Don Shapiro, Bert Gordon, Joe Falls, Dr. Leo Ribuffo, Dr. George Barahal, Ira Berkow, Harold Allen, Robert Steinberg, Charlie Gehringer, Herman “Flea” Clifton, Billy Rogell, George “Birdie” Tebbetts, Ernie Harwell, Eldon Auker, Dick Schaap, Harvey Frank, Marilyn Greenberg, Harriet Colman, Max Lapides, Shirley Povich, Jane Briggs Hart, Harry Eisenstat, Bob Feller, Hoot Robinson, Hal Newhouser, Arn Tellem, Caral Gimbel, Glenn Greenberg, Alva Greenberg, Rep. Sander Levin, George Kell, Ralph Kiner, Maury Povich, Ruth Bader Ginsburg

The Ciesla Foundation is re-releasing The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg in theaters on September 20, 2024. Grade: 5/5

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