Oscar Hammerstein II Mathias by his first wife, and James Hammerstein by his second wife, with whom he also had a stepdaughter, Susan Blanchard. Hammerstein was one of the most important "book writers" in Broadway history – he made the story, not the songs or the stars, central to the musical and brought musical theater to full maturity as an art form. According to Stephen Sondheim, "What few people understand is that Oscar's big contribution to the theater was as a theoretician, as a Peter Brook, as an innovator. People don't understand how experimental "Show Boat" and "Oklahoma!" felt at the time they
Mike Hammerstein the 1984 season, Hammerstein registered 53 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and an interception. In his final year at Michigan, Hammerstein started all 12 games at defensive tackle. Hammerstein was paired on the defensive line with Mark Messner in 1985. Led by Hammerstein and Messner, the 1985 team went 10-1-1 and finished the year ranked #2 in the nation. The defense has been described as the best defense in the history of Michigan football. During the 1985 season, he tied Michigan's single season record for tackles for losses with 23 and set the record for yardage lost, sacking opponents for 112