Harry O'Neill, a young rooky singed by Connie Mack Athletics' June 5th 1939 soon after his graduation from Gettysburg College. O'Neill was a three letter man baseball, football and basketball at Gettysburg. He showed special promise as a catcher for the A's. and served as a third string catcher to back-up Frankie Hayes and as a bullpen catcher. Until, in Detroit, he was inserted into the line up in the ninth inning for his only appearance as a Major League ball player on July 23rd 1939. The next day O'Neill started as the A's catcher in Cooperstown, New York to celebrate Connie Mack Day as part of the Centennial of Baseball program. The Philadelphia Athletics were the first Major League team to play at Doubleday Field on July 24th 1939. Several thousand fans were on hand to watch the Philadelphia Athletics play the Pennsylvania Athletic Club. The Athletics won 13 to 6, Connie Mack was unable to attend the festivities but sent his warm regards that were delivered by his son Earl Mack.
In those two day's Harry O'Neill enjoyed his first game as Major Leaguer in Detroit and the first Major League Team's catcher to play at Doubleday Field. The Athletics released O'Neill in September 1939. Harry moved on to the Harrisburg Senators' 1940 and later taught history at Darby Junior High School and coached three sports. Then in 1942 Harry O'Neill joined the Marines and served as a Lieutenant with the Fourth Division's Twenty-fifth Marines. He was wounded in the amphibious landing of Saipan and returned to his unit in February for the assault on Iwo Jima. On March 6, 1945 he was killed there by a Japanese sniper, he was 27 years old.
Hundreds of Major Leaguers served in World War II but only two lost their lives, as a former Marine I am proud to be the custodian of this 1939 Philadelphia Athletics team ball. Lieutenant Harry O'Neill a Marine and a member of the greatest generation he is remembered at Arlington Cemetery and not forgotten in baseball history. Visit my Web Site
www.1939baseball.com
025.jpg