Posted on 02/03/2021 9:09:33 AM PST by fugazi
Today's edition of the World War II Chronicle (daily commentary on World War II, accompanying this day's newspaper from 80 years ago) features boxing and baseball legends Joe Louis, Hank Greenberg, and Bob Feller, pulled from their games at the top of their career, to pick up where they left off after the war.
Greenberg finished 1940 batting .340 for the Detroit Tigers, leading the league in homeruns, doubles, and runs batted in and earning American League MVP. The American League’s first player to register for the draft squeezed in 19 games before reporting for duty at Fort Custer, Mich. where he would become a tank gunner. Sgt. Greenberg was honorably discharged when Congress [...]Finishing second in the AL MVP vote was Cleveland’s 21-year-old pitching sensation Bob Feller (Joe DiMaggio, who would join the Army, was third). Feller led the majors in wins (27), strikeouts (261), complete games (31), and led the American League in most everything else in 1940. [...]
Our third superstar-turned-serviceman is the Joe Louis, perhaps the greatest heavyweight boxer of all-time. Louis was on his third year (of 12 straight years) of his reign as heavyweight champions, having recently defeated challengers Al McCoy (Dec. 16 at Boston Garden), Red Burman (Jan. 31 at New York City’s Madison Square Garden), and was about to face Max Durazio at Philadelphia’s Convention Hall (Feb. 17) for the 14th fight defending his title.
Louis will voluntarily enlist in the U.S. Army in January 1942 (after six more successful title defenses), and serves in a segregated cavalry unit out of Fort Riley, Kansas.
This page introduces World War II Chronicle: http://www.victoryinstitute.net/blogs/utb/world-war-ii-chronicle/ and the commentary piece contains a link to the Feb. 3, 1941 newspaper (Washington D.C.'s Evening Star).
(Excerpt) Read more at victoryinstitute.net ...
Good read. We used to have real sports heroes.
I think given similar circumstances, many of our modern pampered athletes would surprise us. And history is generally kind to athletes that, given modern media scrutiny, would be very disappointing if we knew how many people used status to avoid service.
Feller and Greenberg probably could have stayed clear of service in forward areas. Most athletes stayed stateside or were far removed from combat. Louis didn’t go overseas, but showed courage by fighting racism at home.
But you are right; these men were without a doubt heroes.
I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Bob Feller at a minor league baseball game in Winston-Salem, NC in the mid-1990s. We discussed his experiences in World War II and, of course, his stellar baseball career. He was at the game to sign autographs as part of a local promotion, but the odd thing is that we talked for 15 or 20 minutes without being interrupted by autograph seekers. I guess most of the fans there didn’t know (or care) who he was.
Wow
The only modern sports parallel that comes to mind is Pat Tillman. As far as comparisons to Hollywood celebs that stepped up during WWII and recent times, there’s pretty thin gruel. The singer “Shaggy” served in the USMC during Desert Storm, but that’s been 30 years ago now. Bruce Willis attempted to enlist after 9/11 but was turned away due to age. Adam Driver enlisted after 9/11. There may be a few other exceptions, but I’m guessing they could be counted on two hands, maybe one.
Why was Ted Williams omitted in this treatise....
He was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 19-year Major League Baseball career, primarily as a left fielder, for the Boston Red Sox from 1939 to 1960; his career was interrupted by military service during World War II and the Korean War.
He flew F4U Cosair’s and F9F Panthers in the Marine Corps...
There was a column in the paper 80 years ago today mentioning Louis, Feller, and Greenberg, which is why those three — and not Williams — were mentioned. He will be covered plenty in future posts.
Bob Feller went to the Navy and was assigned as a gunner oin an AA battery on the USS Alabama. You can visit this in Mobile Bay and see the gun station with pictures of him there.
Bob Feller went to the Navy and was assigned as a gunner oin an AA battery on the USS Alabama. You can visit this in Mobile Bay and see the gun station with pictures of him there.
Williams didn't enter the military until May 22, 1942
Given the fact that WWII did not begin until Dec 7th 1941. I don’t see the difference.
Moe Berg actually spied for the U.S. in Japan before the war.
Fot that I give him and all the professional sportsmen that gave their all for America including the other hundreds of thousands that served and gave their all.
I don’t think I understand your point........Care to clarify?
I'm not sure what your point is?
Did you actually go to the posted website which is merely a chronicle of the daily news at that time or are you just commenting on what was posted above?
We didn’t enter World War II until 1941, but a lot of other countries had a big head-start on us.
Moe Berg’s story is a fascinating one; I’ve written about him (and Ted Williams) a few times before. Also, there was a ballplayer named Hank Gowdy who served in both world wars. Quite a few boxers and tons of football players served. I’d love to tell all 16 million stories, but after 80 years, so much has been lost to history.
That’s What I was referring too.
Thanks
Here is a list of future MLB Hall of Famers who served in the nation’s wars. Of course, the number of MLB players who served is much larger.
https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/hall-of-famer-facts/hall-of-fame-veterans
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