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.

Spanish-American War

Name Age Year
died 		Position Team Last year
played 		Service Notes
Bill Stearns 45 1898 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

Name Age Year
died 		Position Team Last year
played 		Service Notes
Tom Burr[2] 24 1918 Outfielder New York Yankees 1914 United States Army A pilot, he crashed after a mid-air collision.
Harry Chapman[2] 32 1918 Catcher
St. Louis Browns
 1916 Died of influenza-induced pneumonia, a victim of the Spanish flu.
Larry Chappell[2] 28 1918 Outfielder
Boston Braves
 1917 United States Army Died of the Spanish flu.
Harry Glenn[2] 28 1918 Catcher St. Louis Cardinals 1915 United States Army Died of pneumonia.
Eddie Grant[2] 35 1918 Third baseman
New York Giants
 1915 United States Army Killed by a shell while leading a unit searching for the "Lost Battalion".
Newt Halliday[2] 21 1918 First baseman Pittsburgh Pirates 1916 United States Navy Died of tuberculosis.
Ralph Sharman[2] 23 1918 Outfielder
Philadelphia Athletics
 1917 United States Army Drowned while swimming.
Bun Troy[2] 30 1918 Pitcher Detroit Tigers 1912 United States Army Shot 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]

Name Age Year
died 		Position Team Last year
played 		Service Notes
Elmer Gedeon[2] 27 1944 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] 27 1945 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]

Name Age Year
died 		Position Team Last year
played 		Service Notes
Bob Neighbors[2][4] 34 1952 Shortstop St. Louis Browns 1939 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.

References

  1. ISBN 978-1-4422-3639-4
    .
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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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