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Danning Harry Biography

American baseball player, a star New York Giants catcher, who lived to be the last surviving member of the 1937 pennant-winning Giants and the oldest Jewish major leaguer. He died of pneumonia in Valparaiso, Indiana, age 93, on November 29, 2004. He had been wheelchair-bound for three years prior to his death but was always mentally alert. He was a catcher for the Giants from 1933 to 1942, a four-time All-Star and member of three World Series teams. On June 9, 1939, he hit one of five home runs hit in an inning, breaking a major league record. A sportswriter dubbed him "Harry the Horse" after a Damon Runyan character, giving a nod to Dannings power and stamina. Danning hit .300 or better for three consecutive years, 1938-1940. As one of fewer than 150 Jews to play in the major leagues, he endured several ethnic slurs. He retired from baseball in 1942 with knee problems diagnosed while he was in the Army. He then tried on sales jobs and completed his career working in the insurance field. He was married, with one child, a daughter Viktoria. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less