Page "Hank Greenberg" Paragraph 39

After the 1947 season, Greenberg retired from the field to become the Cleveland Indians ' farm system director and two years later, their general manager and part-owner along with Bill Veeck.

During his tenure, he sponsored more African American players than any other major league executive.

Greenberg's contributions to the Cleveland farm system led to the team's successes throughout the 1950s, although Bill James once wrote that the Indians ' late 1950s collapse should also be attributed to him.

In 1949, Larry Doby also recommended Greenberg scout three players Doby used to play with in the Negro leagues: Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and Willie Mays.

The next offseason Doby asked what Indians ' scouts said about his recommendations.

Said Greendberg, " Our guys checked ' em out and their reports were not good.

They said that Aaron has a hitch in his swing and will never hit good pitching.

Banks is too slow and didn't have enough range shorstop, and Mays can't hit a curveball.

" When Veeck sold his interest, Greenberg remained as general manager and part-owner until 1957.

He was the mastermind behind a potential move of the club to Minneapolis that was vetoed by the rest of ownership at the last minute.