THE MILWAUKEE BREWERS' JEWISH 3RD BASEMAN

More Than Hitting Prowess Connects Rookie to Hall of Famer (NYT)
ST. LOUIS, July 29 — Ryan Braun grew up spending holidays at his maternal grandfather’s home in Van Nuys, Calif. And as Braun got older, and learned more about the historical significance of the house’s former owner, the special occasions grew more special.

For almost 40 years, his grandfather Bob Robinson has lived in a house that once belonged to Hank Greenberg, a Hall of Fame slugger and one of the game’s best Jewish players. Braun, the sensational Milwaukee Brewers rookie third baseman, is half-Jewish; his father, Joe, was born in Tel Aviv and emigrated to the United States at age 7.

Given his heritage, Braun revels in the connection to Greenberg, a two-time American League most valuable player and a hero to the pre- and post-World War II generation. Greenberg hit 331 home runs, mostly with Detroit.