Max Baer stands on a weight scale with a group of men standing around him.
Maximilian Adelbert Baer Sr. (1909-1959) started boxing in 1929. In 1933, he defeated Hitler's favorite boxer, German Max Schmeling; Baer, whose father was Jewish, and began wearing a large Star of David on his shorts during fights, in solidarity with the Jews' situation. He was the world heavyweight champion from June 14, 1934, to June 13, 1935 and retired from boxing in 1941. During and after his boxing career, he appeared in more than 15 films, appeared on stage in comedy acts, and was featured in many television guest appearances. He was the brother of heavyweight boxing contender Jacob Henry "Buddy" Baer and father of actor and producer Max Baer Jr. (Jethro Bodine on the The Beverly Hillbillies), and was added to the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1968. Baer frequently trained and gave exhibitions in Miami.
