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So many of our professional ahtletes proudly served

Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,489 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
As a Vietnam and Desert Storm veteran - this subject is close to my heart and I'm bringing this up to exemplify the service so many athletes in our country quietly provided - without fanfare.

We are all aware of all the "notables" like Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson e.g. - who served our country. But so many of those athletes from all areas of sports quietly served in our country's military during time of war.

I picked this piece of Topps art up last week from the vault. Willie Miller of the Rams received the Silver Star and purple heart for conspicuous gallantry while serving in Vietnam. The recognition of Willie's service on the back of the card makes it especially poignant for me.

And for those who may not know - the "Soldier's Medal" is the equivalent of the Silver Star or possibly the Congretional Medal of Honor - given not in combat but during "other" activities - which means he risked his life to save another person - tho not in combat.

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I took this image off ebay:

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mike
Mike

Comments

  • stownstown Posts: 11,321 ✭✭✭
    That's a very cool piece, Mike.

    Thanks for sharing image
    So basically my kid won't be able to go to college, but at least I'll have a set where the three most expensive cards are of a player I despise ~ CDsNuts
  • VitoCo1972VitoCo1972 Posts: 6,135 ✭✭✭
    That's truly awesome. Athletes and regular folk alike, I always get chills when I think about how much we owe the men and women of the armed forces
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  • bullratbullrat Posts: 118
    Was wasting time at Barnes & Noble couple of days ago and found No Greater Love: Life Lessons from the Men Who Saved Baseball by Todd Anton. Pretty good read about guys, not only stars, who served in WWII. We owe all past and present military personnel a debt of gratitude for their service.
  • jimq112jimq112 Posts: 3,511 ✭✭✭
    Nice, Mike!

    Stole the scan of this whitey ford rc from ebay, always one of my favorite card backs

    image
    image
  • OAKESY25OAKESY25 Posts: 4,726 ✭✭✭
    awesome.... period
  • Post25Post25 Posts: 206
    Great thread.. I love that Ford card too. That would be a great idea for a collection. Any cards that contain refrences to Athletes serving in the military. Like the '54 Topps Ted Williams (#1) has a little pic of him flying jets.
  • mrbecker712mrbecker712 Posts: 525
    Mkaes me think of those Distinguished Service cards. I've got one of Spahn, and think it's terrific. +1 for a great thread.
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  • IronmanfanIronmanfan Posts: 5,525 ✭✭✭✭
    The Orioles' Al Bumbry served 11 months in Vietnam & earned a Bronze Star
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  • TNP777TNP777 Posts: 5,710 ✭✭✭
    imageimage

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  • 69Cubs69Cubs Posts: 150 ✭✭
    Nice thread! Since we are on the topic, who was the last major league player to be awarded the Purple Heart?

    Mike
  • mcolney1mcolney1 Posts: 990 ✭✭✭
    Bob Kalsu is the only NFL player that I know of that was killed while serving in Vietnam - SI story. I don't know of any card ever produced of him.

    Also, if you look on the back of a lot of football cards during the early 70's (when all years of stats were listed) there is a year or two of the statistical information with the line In Military Service. I know Charlie Johnson's card say that.
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  • 70chip70chip Posts: 797
    Very cool story and pics fellas. Good job!!! image
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  • Carew29Carew29 Posts: 4,025 ✭✭

    Dug up one of many War books out of my collection and the winner is Roy Gleason of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unless something newer has popped up since.

    Roy appeared in 8 games in 1963 and went 1/1 at the plate.
  • perkdogperkdog Posts: 31,899 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Most of the players from the 40's and early 50's served, a bunch of them are guys that were not as popular as some but they equally deserve the same credit.

    I thank EVERYONE of our veterans! image
  • BigDaddyBowmanBigDaddyBowman Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭
    Here's a great one!

    imageimage
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  • mbothnermbothner Posts: 763 ✭✭✭
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  • BigDaddyBowmanBigDaddyBowman Posts: 1,896 ✭✭✭
    her's another great story...

    imageimage


    Another reason I love them 48 Bowman!
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  • 69Cubs69Cubs Posts: 150 ✭✭
    You're right, Roy Gleason was the last major leaguer to be awarded the Purple Heart. Roy was wounded in Vietnam in 1968 and tried to make a comeback with the Dodgers in 1969 but just couldn't do it.

    Mike
  • storm888storm888 Posts: 11,701 ✭✭✭
    Warren Spahn won a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.
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  • bhl2359bhl2359 Posts: 420 ✭
    On the 48 Bowman, I like where it says the offer says "Not vailid where contrary to state laws." I wonder how many states had laws against buying cheap crap?
  • WinPitcherWinPitcher Posts: 27,726 ✭✭✭
    Interesting thread Mike.

    Steve
    Good for you.
  • Carew29Carew29 Posts: 4,025 ✭✭

    Geeeeeeez how could i forget Rocky Bleier!!!
    He fought in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Then goes on to win 4 rings!!!

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