Ball Players who Served

[shernan30]

With Memorial Day tomorrow, let's see some cards/pictures of players who served. I know mine is not pre-war, but anyone you served during WWII, our greatest generation, deserves a spot.

Thanks to all who've served!




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[rhettyeakley]

Perhaps the most underappreciated American Hero in baseball...

[Jay Wolt]

Rhett, I agree!

Another hero is Hank Greenberg who joined the Army before Pearl Harbor in 1940

[Peter_Spaeth]

4 years in WW II, imagine the stats otherwise.

[71buc]

Here are some photos. The Greenberg image is one of my favorites. I love the P51 Mustang in the background. The two DiMaggio photos originate from his estate. The team picture is of the 1942 Service All Stars. There is information about this team in the link below.

http://research.sabr.org/journals/fo...-all-star-game

[Bosox Blair]

Ted...

[itjclarke]

Many of these were mentioned already, but there's no harm in repeating the appreciation...
1915 Cracker Jack Grover Alexander.jpgLeaf Jackie Robinson.jpg
1933 Goudey Moe Berg.jpgLeaf Joe Dimaggio front.jpg
1939-1946 Salutation Exhibits Ted Williams signed.jpg1938 Goudey Bob Feller signed.jpg

Dean Davenport.jpg
Also pictured above is Doolittle Raider- Lt Dean Davenport, co-pilot of the "Ruptured Duck", which was the B-25 depicted in the WWII classic "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" (and then terribly and falsely in the really crappy movie "Pearl Harbor"). He was also one of my Dad's superior officers during the Vietnam War and by all accounts a very good man.

Thanks to all who've served.

Originally Posted by 71buc

I love the P51 Mustang in the background[/url]

Love the pic of Greenberg... the plane is nagging at me though. I don't disagree it's a P-51 but it's got 3 props. I think the only 3 prop P-51 was the P-51A, which didn't really see much if any action and was quickly replaced by the B with its more powerful Rolls engine and 4 props.. and then later the iconic D version (bubble canopy). Wish I could see more of the plane/landing gear, tail, canopy, to know for sure.

[shernan30]

Since the P51 was mentioned again, my favorite plane by the way, here's a recent picture I took at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.




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[wolf441]

Originally Posted by shernan30

Since the P51 was mentioned again, my favorite plane by the way, here's a recent picture I took at the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio.




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That is a beautiful plane Steven!

My dad served in the Merchant Marines in WWII (he had polio as a kid, but almost made it into the army. The story he used to tell was that he made it through nearly all of the examination stations before someone asked him why one leg was shorter than the other!). He passed away two years ago, but absolutely loved vintage planes. He would have been delighted to see that P51. We took him to the Aerodrome in Rhinebeck, NY about a year before he passed away and it's a memory that I will never forget. Thanks for posting!

[bwbc917]

Lou passed away last year. 51VubDagzxL.jpg

[Brian Van Horn]

Larry French.

From Wikipedia:

"French joined the United States Navy after the Dodgers and became a career sailor, retiring in 1969 with the rank of Captain."

[judsonhamlin]

Don't forget our Canadian ally - Phil Marchildon, who spent time as a POW in Germany before his liberation.