List of Major League Baseball players who died in wars

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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.

Contents

Spanish-American War

NameAgeYear
died		PositionTeamLast year
played		ServiceNotes
Bill Stearns 451898 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

NameAgeYear
died		PositionTeamLast year
played		ServiceNotes
Tom Burr [2] 241918 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 1916Died of influenza-induced pneumonia, a victim of the Spanish flu.
Larry Chappell [2] 28Outfielder Boston Braves 1917United States ArmyDied of the Spanish flu.
Harry Glenn [2] 28Catcher St. Louis Cardinals 1915Died of pneumonia.
Eddie Grant [2] 35 Third baseman New York Giants 1915Killed 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] 23Outfielder Philadelphia Athletics 1917United States ArmyDrowned while swimming.
Bun Troy [2] 30 Pitcher Detroit Tigers 1912Shot in the chest during the Meuse–Argonne offensive.

World War II

Of the more than 500 major league players who served in the military in World War II, two were killed. [3]

NameAgeYear
died		PositionTeamLast year
played		ServiceNotes
Elmer Gedeon [2] 271944 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] 271945 Catcher Philadelphia Athletics 1939 United States Marine Corps Killed by a sniper during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Korean War

One Major Leaguer was killed in the Korean War. [2]

NameAgeYear
died		PositionTeamLast year
played		ServiceNotes
Bob Neighbors [2] [4] 341952 Shortstop St. Louis Browns1939 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.

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References

  1. ↑ Russo, Frank (2014). The Cooperstown Chronicles. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 243. ISBN   978-1-4422-3639-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Berra, Lindsay. "MLB stars who earned their stripes: Remembering 12 ballplayers who gave their lives serving country". MLB.com.
  3. ↑ Weintraub, Robert (May 26, 2013). "Two Who Did Not Return". The New York Times.
  4. ↑ "Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice: Korean War". www.baseballsgreatestsacrifice.com.
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