Maximilian Adelbert Baer was born
in Omaha, Nebraska. His father,
Jacob Baer, was Jewish, but his mother, Nora, was not and the children were not
raised in any particular religion.
Max, however, always identified himself as a Jew.
Baer began boxing professionally
when he was about 20 years old. In
a fight against Frankie Campbell on August 25, 1930, Baer pounded Campbell
mercilessly. The referee did not
interfere until Campbell collapsed.
The following day, Campbell died and Baer was charged with
manslaughter. He was eventually
cleared of these charges.
In June 1933, in a fight billed
as the Jew v. the Nazi, Baer fought against the German Max Schmeling. It was during this fight that Baer wore
a Star of David on his boxing shorts for the first time. Interestingly, Schmeling was not a
Nazi. In fact, his manager was
Jewish and during Kristallnacht, in November 1938, he hid two young Jewish
teenage boys, who later escaped Germany.
They credited Schmeling with saving their lives.
Baer was married twice. First to Dorothy Dunbar, whom he
divorced in 1933, and then to Mary Ellen Sullivan. His second wife was the mother of his three children ~ Max
Baer, Jr., James, and Maudie.
Max Baer’s son, Max Baer, Jr.,
became famous as Jethro Bodine from the Beverly
Hillbillies.
Baer died of a heart attack on November 21, 1959. His wife insisted that he be buried in a Roman Catholic funeral in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Sacramento, California.
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