Hank Greenberg
Much like Williams, Greenberg’s career was interrupted by four years of military service during World War II, and like Puckett, he was forced to retire due to a physical ailment despite seeming to have a few years left in the tank.
Greenberg played 11 seasons for the Detroit Tigers, but his final year in 1947 was spent as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. While he batted just .249 that season for the Bucs, he hit 25 homers, drove in 74 runs, led the league with 104 walks, and posted an OPS of .885. That was good for a 131 OPS+ and 3.2 bWAR for the man who was referred to as “Hammerin’ Hank” before Henry Aaron was old enough to pick up a bat.
Three times Greenberg led the league in home runs, including his monster 58-homer season in 1938, twice was AL MVP, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956. Nagging elbow injuries caused him to retire, but didn’t take him away from baseball, as he served as farm system director, general manager, and part of owner of the Cleveland Indians and general manager and part owner of the Chicago White Sox along with the legendary Bill Veeck.
Next: Chasing the home run king.