By JOSEPH DORINSON

THE PREMIERE this week of a new documentary film about baseball great Hank Greenberg generates warm memories. Just as Jackie Robinson was a hero to black Americans and Joe DiMaggio to Italian-Americans, Hammerin' Hank was a true hero to me and to all Jewish Americans.

The 1930s was a grim decade. Hitler dominated Europe, depression gripped America and anti-Semitism was everywhere. Jews suffered a massive inferiority complex. We needed a champion.

When he arrived on the scene in 1933. Hank galvanized American Jewiy He hit with enormous power and fielded compe-tently, if not brilliantly, at first base.

 In his 10-year Detroit Tigers career, Hank led his team to four American League pennants and two World Series victories in 1935 and 1945. He later became the first Jewish ballplayer elected to the Hall of Fame.

 His achievements on the diamond were matched by his service to Uncle Sam. He was the first major-leaguer to join the crusade against fascism in World War II. And he reenlisted, even though he was at the age limit of 30.

Most Americans know nothing of this saga. Now, thanks to "The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg," crafted by Aviva Kempner, the story will reach millions. Kempner's film sensitively explores the conflicting claims of ethnic identity and cultural assimilation.

 To whom did Hank owe primary loyalty? Until he confronted the ugly face of anti-Semitism, he harbored ambivalent feelings toward his heritage. In fact, this son of Romanian Jewish immigrants was raised in a secular household and did not attend synagogue regularly

 But when his "tribe" was defamed, Hank rallied to the cause. A target of verbal and physical abuse from fans, opponents and his own teammates, he nevertheless accepted the responsibility of being an American Jewish hero. "As time went by," he once recalled, "I came to feel that if I, as a Jew, hit a home run, I was hitting one against Hitler."

For Jewish Americans like me, Hank was a welcome jolt of oxygen to reenergize the American dream.

Dorinson is a professor of history at Long Island University and co-author of
"Jackie Robinson: Race, Sports and the American Dream."