Many Baseball Hall of Fame members served in the military, with notable examples including Ted Williams, who flew planes in both World War II and the Korean War; Jackie Robinson, who served as a second lieutenant in the Army's "Black Panthers" tank battalion; and Yogi Berra, who served in the Navy during World War II, participating in the D-Day invasion. Other prominent members who served include Hank Greenberg, Joe DiMaggio, and Christy Mathewson.
9 comments
Notable examples
Ted Williams: Served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a fighter pilot in both World War II and the Korean War, notes the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jackie Robinson: Served in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant in a segregated tank battalion during World War II, details historyfacts.com.
Yogi Berra: Served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, explains the IHG Army Hotels Blog participating in the D-Day invasion from a rocket boat.
Hank Greenberg: Served the longest time in the military among any player during WWII, notes Bleacher Report.
Joe DiMaggio: Served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.
Christy Mathewson: Served in the U.S. Army Chemical Warfare Service during World War I.
Grover Cleveland Alexander: Served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War I.
Nestor Chylak: A Hall of Fame umpire who served in the U.S. Army Rangers during World War II, explains Bleacher Report and fought in the Battle of the Bulge
By all accounts Teddy Ballgame was as good a pilot as he was a ball player. Think about that for a second.
Ted Williams returned from service after 3 years and won MVP like he never left
It makes me wonder if we see a WW3 are there any MLB players who are coming to serve?
“It was typical of Ted Williams to become a Marine Air Corps pilot and see action and almost get shot down. He was a remarkable American. as well as a remarkable ballplayer. His passing so close to a National holiday, on July 5, 2002, seems part of a divine plan, so we can always remember him not only as a great player, but also as a great patriot.” Vin Scully
https://preview.redd.it/1m61zmjbxn0g1.jpeg?width=900&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37109d455f77a4a297c21b5498aac47cf40a4bb1
Teddy ballgame rightfully gets a lot of praise for his combat missions but another all time HoFer who saw combat was Warren Spahn, who got a Purple Heart and (more interestingly) a battlefield commission. He probably would have the NL lead in career wins had he not served (400 wins was probably out of reach though).
MODS: why are there 5 nationalistic posts here in the last 24 hours.
This is not the place.
Thanks for posting.
Super player and a super citizen and patriot.