List of Major League Baseball players who died in wars
This is a list of Major League Baseball players who died in wars. The player's team refers to the last team the person played for.
Spanish-American War
[edit]Name | Age | Year died | Position | Team | Last year played | Service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bill Stearns | 45 | 1898 | Pitcher and outfielder | Washington Nationals | 1875 | United States Army | Stearns was the first Major League Baseball player to die in a war.[1] He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, which means he served in the American Civil War, even though he was only 12 years old at the end of the war; children are known to have served as drummers, messengers, etc. At the age of 45, he volunteered to serve in the Spanish-American War, but became ill during the American landing on Puerto Rico and died at home several months later.[2] |
World War I
[edit]Name | Age | Year died | Position | Team | Last year played | Service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tom Burr[2] | 24 | 1918 | Outfielder | New York Yankees | 1914 | United States Army | A pilot, he crashed after a mid-air collision. |
Harry Chapman[2] | 32 | Catcher | St. Louis Browns | 1916 | Died of influenza-induced pneumonia, a victim of the Spanish flu. | ||
Larry Chappell[2] | 28 | Outfielder | Boston Braves | 1917 | United States Army | Died of the Spanish flu. | |
Harry Glenn[2] | 28 | Catcher | St. Louis Cardinals | 1915 | Died of pneumonia. | ||
Eddie Grant[2] | 35 | Third baseman | New York Giants | 1915 | Killed by a shell while leading a unit searching for the "Lost Battalion". | ||
Newt Halliday[2] | 21 | First baseman | Pittsburgh Pirates | 1916 | United States Navy | Died of tuberculosis. | |
Ralph Sharman[2] | 23 | Outfielder | Philadelphia Athletics | 1917 | United States Army | Drowned while swimming. | |
Bun Troy[2] | 30 | Pitcher | Detroit Tigers | 1912 | Shot in the chest during the Meuse–Argonne offensive. |
World War II
[edit]Of the more than 500 major league players who served in the military in World War II, two were killed.[3]
Name | Age | Year died | Position | Team | Last year played | Service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elmer Gedeon[2] | 27 | 1944 | Outfielder | Washington Senators | 1939 | United States Army Air Forces | Shot down over France while piloting a Martin B-26 Marauder bomber. |
Harry O'Neill[2] | 27 | 1945 | Catcher | Philadelphia Athletics | 1939 | United States Marine Corps | Killed by a sniper during the Battle of Iwo Jima. |
Korean War
[edit]One Major Leaguer was killed in the Korean War.[2]
Name | Age | Year died | Position | Team | Last year played | Service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bob Neighbors[2][4] | 34 | 1952 | Shortstop | St. Louis Browns | 1939 | United States Air Force | Piloted a Douglas A-26 Invader light bomber which was hit. The crew bailed out and were initially listed only as missing in action. |
References
[edit]- ^ Russo, Frank (2014). The Cooperstown Chronicles. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 243. ISBN 978-1-4422-3639-4.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Berra, Lindsay. "MLB stars who earned their stripes: Remembering 12 ballplayers who gave their lives serving country". MLB.com.
- ^ Weintraub, Robert (May 26, 2013). "Two Who Did Not Return". The New York Times.
- ^ "Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice: Korean War". www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com.