There are few hitters in Major League Baseball history better than ‘Hammerin’ Hank’.
The American, who was born on this day in 1911, carved out a Hall of Fame career despite serving with the military during World War II.
Greenberg played 12 of his 13 seasons in the majors with the Detroit Tigers, with whom he was a member of four World Series teams, including two which won championships (1935 and 1945).
He was also a five-time All-Star, a two-time MVP in 1935 and 1940 and led the American League in home runs in four seasons.
Greenberg remains the AL record-holder for most runs batted in for a single season by a right-handed hitter with 183 in 1937, which came in a 154-game season.
The Tigers retired his No5 jersey and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956. Greenberg died at the age of 75 in 1986.
Other sport stars born on this day
1972: Lilian Thuram, World Cup-winning full-back who is the most capped player in French history (45).
1985: Steven Davis, Northern Irish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Southampton (32).
1986: Glen Davis, American basketball player who played for Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic and LA Clippers (31).
1992: Jack Wilshere, English footballer who is a midfielder for Bournemouth and the England national team (25).
