Baseball’s Dead of World War II

While most fans know that baseball stars Ted Williams, Hank Greenberg, and Bob Feller served in the military during World War II, few can name the two major leaguers who died in action. (They were catcher Harry O’Neill and outfielder Elmer Gedeon.) Far fewer still are aware that another 125 minor league players also lost their lives during the war. This book draws on extensive research and interviews to bring their personal lives, baseball careers, and wartime service to light.

Gary Bedingfield is the founder of the Baseball in Wartime website and is a freelance training consultant in Glasgow.

Gary Bedingfield
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 272
Bibliographic Info: 34 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2010
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4454-0
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5820-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface      1
Introduction      3
The Players      29

U.S. ARMY      31
U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE      125
U.S. NAVY      180
U.S. MARINE CORPS      212
CANADIAN ARMY      235

Appendix 1. Roster with Details of the Players Who Died      237
Appendix 2. A Chronology of the Players Who Died      240
Appendix 3. Players Buried Overseas, by Location      243
Notes      245
Bibliography      253
Index      255

“an impressive and highly useful work of scholarship about a most noble subject”—Spitball; “well-researched…an educational read for baseball fans and historians alike”—Yankees Magazine; “clear writing, interesting baseball history…one of the most compelling, memorable and enjoyable World War II histories…rich historical detail…a pleasurable read”—America in WWII; “worth the read and time”—TAR.