Prior military baseball players

bill7549 · May 13, 2004 12:57PM

Just an observation.... I'm collecting the '52 Topps baseball set and probably 80% of the cards I have now indicate that the player pictured spent some time in the service during WWII. Most of them spent 3-4 years in the service and in all different branches. I wonder how many of the crybaby ball players of today were actually prior military?

DirtyHarry · May 13, 2004 1:13PM

Modern players can never be compared to previous greats, this being a large factor. I have barfed my opinion up on the board on this topic a few times....especially regarding mr Bonds.

Stone193 · May 13, 2004 1:18PM

<< I wonder how many of the crybaby ball players of today were actually prior military? >>

Bill
In deference to the players of today, there was a call to arms in 1941 that is unparalleled in history. Many players volunteered and I would bet many were drafted. With the advent of the all volunteer Army, no one gets singled out for dodging the draft and the 'need' had changed also. It would probably take a martian invasion to see who steps up to the plate.

Just my take.
Mike

bill7549 · May 13, 2004 1:24PM

Even with a huge call to arms today, I guarantee there would be very few ball players to volunteer. They are all worried about their bottom line (money, that is) and wouldn't want to risk a war wound ending their career. Pat Tillman has to be one of the few true American ball players. You just don't see that happening these days.

Personally, I put my college career on hold back in 1990 to join the military and was there throughout the first Iraqi war. Now, granted I'm not making the kind of bank players make, but it was a significant sacrifice for me to take four years out of my life to serve.

WinPitcher · May 13, 2004 1:26PM

Bill I do not think you can compare today's ballplayers and those of the WW2 era. First off today the miliatry is all volunteer and back during WW2 just about every able bodied man was drafted or enlisted. In WW1 baseball was deemed non essential and the season was shortened, FDR though wanted the baseball season to continue and thus that is why one can see many teenagers playing during that time period. Most notable among them 15 yr old Joe Nuxhall, 16 yr old Carl Shieb etc. Ted Williams (a pilot) served in both the Korean conflict and the WW. Others such as Bob Feller also saw combat. many played for the various branches that they served in and never saw combat. During Vietnam some players opted for the Reserves or the Natl Guard. During WW1 Christy Mathewson was gassed during a training excersise and was never the same afterwards. back to WW2 one can see many rosters filled with over 40 men and teens. local high school standouts would graduate from school and be on a major league field the following week, many were 1 or 2 year careers.

I found this regarding Hank Greenberg

Greenberg, then a bachelor, was one of the first major leaguers inducted into the service, entering 19 games into the 1941 season. He was discharged from the army on December 5, 1941, two days before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He immediately enlisted as an officer candidate in the Air Corps. Hank served with distinction in the Far East until his discharge in mid-1945. He returned with a bang, with a home run in his first game. His grand slam on the final day of the season won the pennant for the Tigers. In the WS win over the Cubs, he hit two more homers and batted in seven runs.

Stone193 · May 13, 2004 1:37PM

<< Even with a huge call to arms today >>

Bill
Not even if the Martians invaded?

Mike

bill7549 · May 13, 2004 1:42PM

lol, ok Mike, if the Martians invaded I'm sure we might even see Bonds and ARod out there toting machine guns. Of course, then you KNOW the world is going to end (or hell has frozen over...one of the two).

Stone193 · May 13, 2004 1:59PM

<< I'm sure we might even see Bonds >>

Report: martians invade, Bonds goes to war - the world wins. Topps produces War of the Worlds trading cards - Bonds PULLS card citing insufficient compensation for likeness.
Mike

DirtyHarry · May 13, 2004 2:02PM

Stone - wrong. He gets deferred because there is no helmet available to fit his steroid induced cranium.

WinPitcher · May 13, 2004 2:05PM

lol harry i was thinking something along those same lines.....

qualitycards · May 13, 2004 2:06PM

<< In deference to the players of today, there was a call to arms in 1941 that is unparalleled in history >>

I saw a bio on Hank greenberg, he actually enlisted before Pearl Harbor, in the prime of his career...jay

DirtyHarry · May 13, 2004 2:19PM

All joking aside, I think we all agree that you can only compare statistics, but not greatness, of players from different eras. Guess I need to get over it, but I am always rubbed when I see the "Bonds Greatest Of All Time" BS... Many, many factors come into play. But still, it will continue.....and I will participate.

pandrews · May 13, 2004 8:05PM

<< lol, ok Mike, if the Martians invaded I'm sure we might even see Bonds and ARod out there toting machine guns. Of course, then you KNOW the world is going to end (or hell has frozen over...one of the two).

>>

we might need Bonds to stay on 'roids..

MorrellMan · May 13, 2004 10:55PM

I got a different take on this (as usual). Patriotism was different after the depression - I don't think modern day ballplayers' attitudes differ terribly from modern attitudes across the board - this has become a "me first" society and it wasn't entirely that way 60 years ago, being that the country as a whole had to work together to survive the depression. I'm not so sure a martian attack would bring out the core either. Different times, my friends, different times. Somehow, there has become nothing nobler than making tons of money while someone else goes off to fight for "freedom" (read: reigning parties agenda). Pat Tillman is the exception that proves the rule. How many outraged ballplayers have slammed their lockers to go overseas since Tillman's death?

Prior military baseball players

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