Detroit Tigers sell star first baseman Hank Greenberg to the Pittsburgh Pirates

Hank Greenberg

On January 18, 1947, the Detroit Tigers sell star first baseman Hank Greenberg to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1946, Greenberg led the American League with 44 home runs and 127 RBIs, but will slump to 25 home runs and 74 RBIs with the Pirates. Greenberg will retire after the 1947 season.

Due to a misunderstanding of Walter Briggs, the Tigers’ owner, who believed Hank Greenberg had posed in a Yankee jersey, the 1946 American League home run leader (44) is sold to the Pirates, after ensuring that the other AL teams wouldn’t put in a waiver claim, for $35,000. The Yankee jersey he was seen wearing was from a War Time charity game from 1943.

In 1946, Greenberg led the American League with 44 home runs and 127 RBIs, but will slump to 25 home runs and 74 RBIs with the Pirates. Greenberg will retire after the 1947 season.The disgruntled Hank is dissuaded by Pittsburgh not to retire, and he will join and mentor the National League’s young home run leader, Ralph Kiner (23) in the Steel City. Although his mentor ship helped, so did the fact Pittsburgh moved in the left field fence for Greenberg, and Kiner benefited from greatly.

 

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