December 7, 1941 was a day that affected the world and, though nowhere near as important, baseball history. It was on this day 70 years ago when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor Oahu, Hawaii and the United States entered World War II.
Indians pitcher Bob Feller was on his way to Cleveland that day in his new Buick Century to discuss his 1942 contract. While crossing the Mississippi River from Iowa into Illinois he heard news of the attack on his radio. Though he was exempt from the draft because his father was terminally ill, Feller made baseball history by becoming the first major leaguer to enlist.
On December 8, 1941 he joined the Navy and volunteered for combat duty. For the next four years he served as a Gun Captain seeing combat on the USS Alabama. Feller received five campaign ribbons and eight battle stars while rising to Chief Petty Officer. He was put on inactive duty in 1945.
On December 7, 1941 Jackie Robinson was on the ship Lurlene returning from Hawaii where just two days earlier he had played his last football game for the Honolulu Bears. He was drafted into the Army on April 3, 1942. The man who would make baseball history by breaking the color line in 1947 showed his pride on July 6, 1944.
While stationed in Fort Hood, Texas Robinson refused when told to move to the back of the bus with other African-Americans. This was 10 years before Rosa Parks did the same in Mobile, Alabama. He was court-martialed for insubordination and didn’t ship out to Europe. Later that year he was exonerated and given an honorable discharge.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Ted Williams was 23 years old and had just finished a season in which he would become the last man in baseball history to hit above .400(.406). On December 7, 1941 his draft status was 3-A, because he was his mother’s lone supporter. It was changed to 1-A when the U.S. went to war and Williams appealed.
He won, but pressure from fans and the press made him enlist in the Navy on May 22, 1942. Williams joined the V-5 program and set out to be a pilot. Though he never flew a mission in World War II Williams earned his wings and commission in the Marine Corps on May 2, 1944. The man who aspired to be the greatest hitter in baseball history served four years and was discharged on January 28, 1946.
On December 7, 1941 New York Yankees outfielder Joe DiMaggio was the reigning American League Most Valuable Player and author of a record 56 game hitting streak. Unlike Feller, Robinson and Williams, DiMaggio played in 1942 and did not join the Army until February 17, 1943. He was stationed in Santa Ana, California and did not fight overseas.
DiMaggio did play service ball including an all-star game against the Boston Braves on July 12, 1943 in which arguably the greatest player in baseball history, Babe Ruth, was his manager.
Towards the end of his military term DiMaggio suffered from stomach ulcers which limited his active duty. He was released from service on September 14, 1945.
For these four men and the world December 7, 1941 changed their lives. Making baseball history would have to wait while America called them to war.