{"id":4968,"date":"2010-05-09T03:21:36","date_gmt":"2010-05-09T10:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.seamheads.com\/?p=4968"},"modified":"2010-05-09T03:24:46","modified_gmt":"2010-05-09T10:24:46","slug":"remembering-baseballs-heroes-on-ve-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/2010\/05\/09\/remembering-baseballs-heroes-on-ve-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering Baseball’s Heroes on VE-Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Baseball's<\/span><\/a>\"\"<\/span>As we celebrate the 65th anniversary of VE-Day, let’s take a moment to remember the 58 professional baseball players who lost their lives in the fight against Nazi Germany. <\/span><\/p>\n

As you look through the list of names you will notice Herman Bauer, brother of Hank Bauer; Lefty Brewer, a promising young left-hander who spent some time on the bench with the Senators; Elmer Gedeon, another Senator, who played a handful of games with the big league club; Nay Hernandez, who played for the San Diego Padres and was killed in action after only being in military service for seven months; Art Keller, a promising young catcher in the Browns organization; Hank Nowak, a pitcher the Cardinals had high hopes for; Joe Pinder, a Medal of Honor winner at Normandy; Bill Sarver, a promising outfielder in the Yankees farm system; and Elmer Wright, a Browns pitcher who was among the first killed at Omaha Beach.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the same time, let’s not forget the other 76 professional ballplayers who lost their lives fighting the Japanese or while in training in the United States. <\/span><\/p>\n

What will it take for Major League Baseball to finally recognize these heroes of the game? These men who made baseball’s greatest sacrifice.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/col>\n<\/col>\n<\/col>\n<\/col>\n<\/col>\n

\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Player Name<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPosition<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nYears in Minors<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nService<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nDate of Death<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Herman A. Bauer<\/span><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/td>\n1939-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJuly 12, 1944\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leonard E. “Link” Berry<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1937-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nDecember 24, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charles W. “Chuck” Bowers<\/span><\/td>\n2B<\/span><\/td>\n1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nApril 15, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Forrest V. “Lefty” Brewer<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1938-1940<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJune 6, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ordway H. “Hal” Cisgen<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1940-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJuly 11, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Clarence Clayton<\/span><\/td>\n2B<\/span><\/td>\n1944<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nMay 1, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Howard W. DeMartini<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1937-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nDecember 24, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John H. Fessler*<\/span><\/td>\nIF<\/span><\/td>\n1938-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJune 10, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gene Gabrych*<\/span><\/td>\nSS<\/span><\/td>\n1940-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJuly 5, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elmer J. Gedeon<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1939-1940<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nApril 20, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Conrad W. “Connie” Graff<\/span><\/td>\n1B\/OF<\/span><\/td>\n1940-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJuly 8, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alan S. Grant<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1941<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nDecember 29, 1943<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
William F. “Bill” Hansen<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1941-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJan-45<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Manuel P. “Nay” Hernandez<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1944<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nMarch 22, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ernest J. Holbrook<\/span><\/td>\n1B<\/span><\/td>\n1935-1936<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nDecember 16, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ernest Hrovatic (Hrovatich)<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1942-1943<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 14, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ardys B. “Art” Keller<\/span><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/td>\n36, 39-43<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nSeptember 29, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Walter E. Lake<\/span><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/td>\n1938-1940<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJuly 26, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Theodore C. “Ted” Maillet<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1939-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nApril 7, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dom P. Malchiodi<\/span><\/td>\nC<\/span><\/td>\n1941-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nMay 31, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John W. “Duck” McKee<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1932-1934<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nMarch 6, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Paul V. A. Mellblom<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1938-1939<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 14, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
George A. Meyer<\/span><\/td>\nOF\/SS<\/span><\/td>\n1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 15, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joseph T. Moceri<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1941-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJune 30, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
William F. “Bill” Niemeyer<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n40-42, 44<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nMarch 4, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Henry S. “Hank” Nowak<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1937-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 1, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joseph M. Palatas<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1942<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nApril 11, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Metro Persoskie<\/span><\/td>\nP\/OF<\/span><\/td>\n1940-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nFebruary 22, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Charles R. Pescod<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1937-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nDecember 2, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John J. “Joe” Pinder, Jr.<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n35-36, 38-41<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJune 6, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Luster Pruett*<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 11, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ernest R. Raimondi<\/span><\/td>\n3B<\/span><\/td>\n1936-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 26, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joseph W. Rodgers<\/span><\/td>\nIF<\/span><\/td>\n1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Navy<\/span><\/td>\nOctober 10, 1943<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Michael L. Sambolich<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1941-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nNovember 4, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
William A. “Bill” Sarver<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1938-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nApril 6, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Robert C. “Bob” Schmukal<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nOctober 3, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Edward N. Schohl<\/span><\/td>\nSS<\/span><\/td>\n1933-1940<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nNovember 1, 1943<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Carl H. “Kappy” Scott<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1934, 1936<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJuly 26, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Donald R. Shelton<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1940<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nSeptember 15, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jack C. Siens<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1939-1940<\/span><\/td>\nUS Navy<\/span><\/td>\nSeptember 10, 1943<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Arthur H. “Art” Sinclair<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1938<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 26, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John M. “Mason” Smith<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1942<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nNovember 4, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Marshall M. Sneed<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1939-1940<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nFebruary 22, 1943<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rodney L. Sooter<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\nDid Not Play<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nFebruary 1, 1946<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Earl V. “Lefty” Springer<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1940-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 25, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Donald A. Stewart<\/span><\/td>\nUMPIRE<\/span><\/td>\n1939-1940<\/span><\/td>\nCan Army<\/span><\/td>\nMarch 13, 1941<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alvin “Bus” Stiewe<\/span><\/td>\nSS<\/span><\/td>\n1936-1938<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nFebruary 15, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sylvester H. “Syl” Sturges<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1939-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nJune 7, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Steve L. Tonsick<\/span><\/td>\n1B<\/span><\/td>\n1937<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nMarch 28, 1943<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Joseph Vecchio*<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1939<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nNovember 16, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elmer J. Wachtler<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1942-1943<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 5, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lester R. Wirkkala<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1935-1941<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nSeptember 7, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Stanford G. Wolfson<\/span><\/td>\nOF\/IF\/P<\/span><\/td>\n1941-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUSAAF<\/span><\/td>\nNovember 5, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alan Wray (Alan W. Lightner)<\/span><\/td>\nOF<\/span><\/td>\n1939<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 12, 1945<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elmere P. “Elmer” Wright<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1937-1940<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJune 6, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Frederick J. Yeske<\/span><\/td>\nP<\/span><\/td>\n1941-1942<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nDecember 21, 1943<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
John J. Zulberti<\/span><\/td>\nIF<\/span><\/td>\n1937-1940<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nJanuary 21, 1944<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
George C. Zwilling<\/span><\/td>\nSS<\/span><\/td>\nDid Not Play<\/span><\/td>\nUS Army<\/span><\/td>\nMarch 31, 1943<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we celebrate the 65th anniversary of VE-Day, let’s take a moment to remember the 58 professional baseball players who lost their lives in the fight against Nazi Germany. As you look through the list of names you will notice Herman Bauer, brother of Hank Bauer; Lefty Brewer, a promising young left-hander who spent some […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":706,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[7257,7254,7260,7263,6307,7255,7259,7266,7262,551,3140,7265,191,7258,7264,499,7256,6298,2192,7261],"class_list":["post-4968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-65th-anniversary","tag-bill-hansen","tag-demartini","tag-fessler","tag-gedeon","tag-hank-bauer","tag-heroes-of-the-game","tag-high-hopes","tag-honor-winner","tag-left-hander","tag-lefty","tag-list-of-names","tag-major-league-baseball","tag-nazi-germany","tag-omaha-beach","tag-outfielder","tag-professional-ballplayers","tag-professional-baseball-players","tag-san-diego-padres","tag-us-army"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t