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Home , Al Kaline, Detroit Tigers, Golden age of baseball, Hank Greenberg, Roger Maris, Sandy Koufax

BASEBALL DIGEST  WORLD EDITION 

A Special Publication of Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

* * * By Abe J. Schear Aviva Kempner October 2013 “In the View of the Director” Aviva Kempner was born in Germany Schear: What are your first memories people in Israel that get up early in and moved to when she was three. of baseball? the morning to watch Sports Center The daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Kempner: It’s walking with my father or something like that from the night baseball was an important part of her and my brother into Tiger in before. There are a lot of people there immersion into America, an activity she Detroit. Very, very warm memories. that do that. Did you father play shared with her family. Her memories of And when was that? baseball when he came to the United the are warm and poignant. In the early 1960’s. That was the best States? thing about Detroit. I say that I made the No. No. We’re not talking any athlete Flash forward, Aviva, now an award most positive film about Detroit, it was here. winning film maker, made the Emmy just about the 1930’s and the 1940’s. Did he move to Detroit in the 1920’s? nominated movie “The Life and Times It has been all downhill in part since No, after we left Berlin. I think it was of Greenberg”, the celebrated Tiger then I suppose. Now you didn’t 1949 or 1950. player from the 1930’s – 1940’s and, initially grow up in Detroit? Did you have siblings that played likely, the best of the non-pitching Jewish I came to Detroit when I was 3½ I baseball? baseball players of the twentieth century. believe. My brother played little league. ’s story is one of sport and Did you parents learn to become Growing up I went to a lot of little excellence, of overcoming discrimination baseball fans? league games. and of overwhelming success. Aviva My dad was an immigrant Jew. He Did you mother learn to follow skillfully explains the story to the viewer. came in the 1920’s and, very typically, baseball? if you were an American, you followed No, it was definitely my dad. Film and baseball clearly go together, each baseball. He was a big fan. I could see When you first went to your first a story with a beginning and an end. There him, right now, leaning in his chair in game, do you remember where you is a purpose and, often, a thoughtful analysis. the early days listening on the transistor sat? I am really honored that Aviva shared a few radio and in the later days just watching No, but I do remember keeping score. minutes of her time and encourage you to TV. What’s interesting is that when he It was a traditional little booklet. You become engaged in her projects. moved to Israel, he said there were only know if it was a to first you do a two things he is going to miss, his kids diamond. The old fashioned way of *** and baseball and I was never sure what keeping score. Abe J. Schear is an attorney with Arnall Golden Gregory LLP and is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Group. Contact Abe at 404.873.8752 or [email protected]. “I think the players is not remembered because it was so many

years ago.” I Remember When, a book which includes 35 interviews in this series, is available for $20. A check should be made was the order of the primary thing he is Did you father see baseball really as an payable to Abe Schear and mailed to him at going to miss. American game? Arnall Golden Gregory. That’s funny. There are a lot of He just totally bought into it and loved A r n a l l Go l d e n G r e g o r y L L P | October 2013 it. It wasn’t so much any other sports. make a catch and hitting against the wall. I had just finished a film and I was in LA Detroit, you know, was pretty popular, He was a favorite player too. I think opening it. I was getting dressed for the a pretty big sports town. We briefly Kaline and Colavito. I guess I was an opening and heard that Hank Greenberg lived in the suburbs so I remember there person. had died the night before and I knew at was a neighbor kid who played a lot of When you went to the ballpark, what that moment that that had to be by next baseball. The first boy I kissed was a were your favorite things about the film, because growing up my brother baseball player, Jeff, who sadly, sadly, park? It was quirky. and I heard all the time about Hank sadly died in Vietnam. I have a tribute It was just something that my brother Greenberg. Especially on to him at the end of the Hank Greenberg and I bonded with my father. My when my dad would take us to Kol Nidre film. parents had been divorced so it was just services. I remember thinking growing I guess your father and you originally something we did with dad and until up that Hank was part of Kol Nidre started listening to the games and then this day. I loved the green field. It’s services and in fact he was in our home. I guess he enjoyed just sitting and just like the line in the My dad had also talked about domestic watching the games as well. movie “and seeing families together”. I anti-semitism. He said when he left the Right. And we went to a lot of them too. loved it when the Tigers won. All of us army that anti-semitisim was happening Did you read the paper about streaming into the stadium, all coming in America. I knew I had to do a film baseball? Did your dad read the paper back out. about fighting the Nazis and I about baseball? It was a pretty big part of the wanted to do a film about the American Yes and we’d talk about it. community. What is the most counterpart. In some ways, why didn’t Who the announcers were in Detroit memorable game you think you’ve Americans do more for its brethren? back then? ever gone to? Hank Greenberg, who I suppose . It was a and Aretha logically would have broken Babe He was remarkable, a totally sweet Franklin sang the national anthem. I Ruth’s record if anyone had ever man. can’t remember what year that was. I thrown him any pitches that he could That is when we were listening. meant to look it up and I didn’t. Going hit in the last 2 or 3 weeks of the He was like many of the other to the game and loving the game and season. announcers, a southerner who just talking about it at night about what had Right. really knew how to tell stories and happened. It seems to me that Hank Greenberg he was from just outside Atlanta and Did your dad teach you to keep score? was (and his family) always been went to Emory. The only announcer Yes. That’s what I was saying. He remarkably graceful about basically that I think was ever traded for a would buy those books and it would not having a chance to break a great player. have each player and then we would do record. I didn’t know that. That’s a great line. like a diamond to see how far they had Well you know either way, I’m not sure When he was with the Atlanta Crackers he was traded for a player. Detroit was your favorite team. Are “I think it’s a very intellectual game.” they still your favorite team? Since I live in Washington, obviously Detroit takes second priority now. advanced. That real old fashioned way. they purposely didn’t pitch him a ball Who were your favorite players Do you still have your score cards? because he was Jewish as the papers say. growing up? No. Do you think Hank Greenberg is Well I can remember several things. Let I actually have a pile of my mother’s remembered significantly enough as a me go back to my father. Or are you score cards that she kept from the baseball player? going to ask me about Hank Greenberg 1930’s. I think the golden age of baseball players and how I first heard about him? You grew up in Atlanta? is not remembered because it was so I will get to Hank Greenberg, I I grew up in Dayton. many years ago. I believe that the film promise. How far does your family go back? did a lot to really give Hank his due and Ricky Colavito is who I had a total crush They came to the United States in I’m really proud of that. I think a lot of on. It was my first adolescent crush. I 1903. the great players in that period are not remember when he went up there, strong Were they peddlers? remembered because it’s so many years good looking Italian guy. He would do They were grocers. ago. So I think that has a lot to do with these calisthenics types of thing, put his In Dayton? it. arm back a weird configuration and I just Yes. My grandfather came and bought How hard is it to do a baseball loved it. an apple cart. I know you directed movie? Maybe that really isn’t a And then they traded him to the and produced “The Life and Times of baseball movie? How hard is it to do a Indians or something like that. Hank Greenberg”. How did you get documentary? So that was one. I remember crying to that story and what fascinated you It is hard to raise money to make it and when broke his wrist trying to about that story? it took three years to raise money for the 2 by Abe J. Schear movie. though I’m not a Yankee fan, I became a He made his own life up and he died I suppose it takes a long time to track big Red Sox fan about 10 years ago so I almost a work of fiction. But it’s a down people to do interviews? Do you see them a lot too. fascinating story and he was a guy like baseball films in general? How did you become a Red Sox Fan? that loved to be on the team but hated Oh yes. “A League of Their Own” is I don’t know. I just bought into the to play because he was sure that if great. I’m actually working with Penny “we haven’t won” psyche. I actually he played he’d have to go back to Marshall on a film. I loved “Money believed they were going to win when the minor leagues because he wasn’t Ball”. I loved the one with Kevin they came from behind. any good. I don’t have any more Costner. “42” is very good. It is my Do you have any favorite ballparks questions. sport. I had people over last night I had that you been to? I think the most important thing is it’s a the baseball game going on. Fenway is great. I’ve been to Yankee great game. It is a game about physical It was 2 to 2 for a long time. Would Stadium. I just think part of the Yankee skill but it’s so much a game about the you rather today watch a game on TV thing is maybe they win too much. I mind and I think it’s a very intellectual or listen to a game on the radio? feel it’s very sad A Rod is getting paid game. I can’t follow football at all. I Watch on TV. so much you know and not playing. Part think it’s violent, although interestingly It always seemed to me that baseball of the reason I redid the DVD, beside enough I like hockey, because I think it’s in many ways is an oral sport. It the fact it was out of print, a young boy so amazing on how graceful they are on keeps you company, that’s what Ernie asked me was Hank on steroids and it the ice. Harwell always said. made me feel so bad. I realized that That’s because you have the Red Yeah, when I’m in the car I listen. On young kids think that’s just the norm so I Wings. a personal note I think another aspect wanted to make a film that celebrated the I don’t know, how do you feel? of baseball is that I’ve had crushes on players, and I never did a story on Hank I love baseball. I think baseball is players. I always have. I told you the in his managerial years with a game that you can discuss. It’s a first boy I kissed was a baseball player. which was quite amazing. They had game that is slow enough that you So I love just seeing the players play. and . I also can remember what happened and I have a very funny story. Who did I wanted to change the kids’ perception of it’s a game that 30 years later you can have crushes on? Mark McGuire, partly what different players did. remember where you sat and what you because I thought he behaved so very Do you collect anything from baseball? ate at the ballgame. well in the big race against . I have a lot of Hank Greenberg There were times that I did eat hot dogs. And Palmera. So when it comes to the memorabilia on my wall. I have You know it is just a thing you did with hearings in Congress, who is testifying pictures of pitching. with family. It reminds me of such a and everyone is watching it? There was I commissioned a picture of Hank positive way about my father. Actually Palmera sitting next to McGuire. Greenberg hitting and I’m a little upset that my brother is a Do you plan to do anymore baseball catching. So obviously it’s the Jewish total hockey and fan. He’s movies? . abandoned baseball and I don’t have any I’d love to do the That would be a great story. He’s children and he bought my niece to those players, Latin players, they’ve played one of my favorite players for all the games. So I feel a little deserted. What for 100 years. I actually got another 13 wrong reasons. He’s a guy that really can you do! years in me to write for money. Even seemed to live a life utterly unfulfilled. Thank you for your time.

3 A r n a l l Go l d e n G r e g o r y L L P | October 2013

A few notes regarding Hank Greenberg:

We have such very short memories and the words “great” and “phenom” are used so often that they have generally lost their meanings. That is hardly the case when dealing with the extraordinary career of Hank Greenberg.

Greenberg first appeared in a Detroit uniform in 1930 at the age of 19. For a decade or more, he led a routinely average team to great glory and his amazing baseball career may only be surpassed by his nearly four years in the military (it should be noted that Greenberg had served his tour of duty when the events at Pearl Harbor occurred, a fact which caused Greenberg to re-enlist) and by his graciousness to who said of Greenberg “Class tells. It stands out all over Mr. Greenberg”.

In 1935, Greenberg had 103 RBI’s at the All Star Break! He finished the season with total 389 bases, including 36 home runs, 16 triples, 46 doubles and 87 walks. This was a year after leading the Tigers to the World Series where, like Sandy Koufax decades later, Greenberg did not play in a World Series game which fell on Yom Kippur.

In 1937, Greenberg had an amazing 183 RBI’s and 40 home runs. Epically, in 1938 Greenberg had 58 home runs despite walking nearly twenty percent of his at bats. Whether the league pitched to him or around him as the season ended will never be known and Greenberg, the gentleman that he was, never complained and never again approached ’s magical “60”, which was only broken in 1961 by Roger Maris.

After World War II, Greenberg ultimately finished his career in where he mentored a young . Greenberg subsequently became the general of the Indians.

Hank Greenberg was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1956. His is a “great” story, athletic, patriotic and graceful – remarkably different and distinguished from athletes of today. Aviva’s movie about Hank Greenberg is both enjoyable and

educational and I hope that you will find the time to watch it.

Director”

“In the View of the the of View the “In

Aviva Kempner Aviva

61st EDITION 61st

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