MLB: Twelve Players Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice
By Ron Juckett
A day of reflection, Memorial Day is reserved to remember those brave soldiers who never came home. Twelve MLB players are in those ranks. Here is their story.
As we pause and reflect this Memorial Day to remember the 1.1 million men and women who gave their lives defending the United States of America, Call to the Pen would like to take a moment and honor the 12 Major League Baseball players who ended up making the ultimate sacrifice.
From the formation of the National Association in 1871 through today, professional baseball players have served our country with honor and distinction. The website Baseball’s Greatest Sacrifice claims 205 major and minor league players died in service from the Spanish-American War through today’s Global War on Terror. They have accumulated 500 biographies on all persons with a baseball playing background perishing because of war. From pro and college players to Australian, Canadian and Japanese men who died in World War II, the site is a moving memorial to those who never made it home.
Unlike most baseball and war veteran stories told, there are no household names here. Just 12 men who played a game which we all love at the top level who served their country and never came home.
From the Spanish-American War to Korea, here are the stories of 12 people deserving to be shared.
Next: From the earliest days of the Majors