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Memorial Day and Baseball

Fans of baseball should be well acquainted with each story of Bob Feller, Hank Greenberg, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams.  They left the primes of their careers to serve in WWII.  The statistics that would have been compiled are mind numbing to think about.  All of these players lost out on 3+ seasons to support their country.  Here are their stats if interested: Bob Feller , Hank Greenberg, Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams.  Ted Williams also participated in the Korean War as well.  A brief rundown of Ted Williams combat experience: commissioned officer and pilot in the United States Marine Corps, wingman for Senator John Glenn, shot down once, and awarded the air medal.  Imagine the totals he would have put up without missing 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1952, and 1953...  Yeah thought about it, um, wow.

FDR did a great thing in allowing Major League Baseball to continue for the 1942-1945 seasons.  The game was essential to the morale of the country at the time.  I only named the most famous of the ball players who contributed to the war effort, but there were many baseball players who gave up their playing careers to help their country.  Lesser know major leaguers lost their lives and gave the ultimate sacrifice to their country.  Elmer Gedeon and Harry O'Neill lost their lives during WWII.

The Cincinnati Reds own Eddie Grant died in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in 1918 in The Great War.  He was a lawyer, a graduate of Harvard, a pro baseball player, and a Captain in an Infantry Division. 

Ty Cobb, Christy Mathewson, and a slew of other players contributed stateside to the efforts of The Great War.  Players were combat veterans of the Civil War, Spanish American War, WWI, WWII, and Korea.  Many MLBers also participated on weekends in the National Guard in support of the Vietnam War.  I can't think of or find anyone in the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

2 recs  |  Comment 8 comments

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Great Post

and thank you for what you do for all of us every day.

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on May 26, 2008 10:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Gary Mathews

served a tour or two in Vietnam

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on May 26, 2008 10:14 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

That explains the nickname

I never knew it was based on actual service.

Last year the Padres signed Cooper Brannan, a RHP and former Marine who did two tours in Iraq (injuring his non-pitching hand in the process), to a minor league deal. I’m not sure if he’s still playing.

by ken on May 27, 2008 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jerry Coleman was the only Major Leaguer to see combat in 2 wars -WWII and Korea

He flew combat missions and his career was cut short by the wars. He did go on to become a long time broadcaster who was loved for his malapropisms.

"When I got my award, I just wore my usual stuff," Dunn said.
"Was it for the Reds organization or all of baseball?" Bruce said.

by Madville on May 26, 2008 10:44 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I thought Ted Williams served

in both wars

Hope Springs Eternal! Go Reds

by Caleb on May 28, 2008 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

i think the distinction here

is seeing action. Williams was a flight instructor in WWII and wasn’t on the front lines.

What do you mean, "blank slate"?

by boobs on May 28, 2008 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I was going to bring Williams up

I thought he’d be spinning in his head-jar if we forgot him. But boobs is correct with the distinction. Williams was 34 when he left for Korea.

by Red Menace on May 28, 2008 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can we get a picture of Ted's Head ?

Ah yes, thanks

"When I got my award, I just wore my usual stuff," Dunn said.
"Was it for the Reds organization or all of baseball?" Bruce said.

by Madville on May 29, 2008 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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