Major League Veterans – Korean War Chapter
The Korean War, often referred to as the “Forgotten War,” took place from 1950 to 1953. It was a brutal conflict that saw the combined forces of North Korea, China, and the Soviet Union fighting against South Korea and a United Nations coalition led by the United States. Among the soldiers who fought in this war were several Major League Baseball players who put their careers on hold to serve their country.
One such player was Hall of Famer Ted Williams. Williams, who was already an established star with the Boston Red Sox, joined the United States Marine Corps in 1952 at the age of 34. He served as a pilot and flew 39 combat missions in Korea, earning the Air Medal and two Gold Stars for his bravery. Williams missed almost two full seasons of baseball due to his service in the war but returned to the Red Sox in 1954 and continued to play at a high level until his retirement in 1960.
Another notable player who served in the Korean War was Bob Feller. Feller, who had already established himself as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history with the Cleveland Indians, enlisted in the Navy shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He served on the USS Alabama during World War II and returned to baseball in 1945. Feller was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served as a Chief Petty Officer on the USS Pittsburgh. He returned to the Indians in 1954 and continued to pitch until his retirement in 1956.
Other Major League players who served in the Korean War include Hoyt Wilhelm, Warren Spahn, and Jackie Robinson. Wilhelm, a Hall of Fame knuckleball pitcher, served in the Korean War as a mortar man in the Army. Spahn, another Hall of Famer, was a combat engineer in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II and returned to serve in the Korean War as a member of the Army’s Special Services Division. Robinson, who broke the color barrier in baseball when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, served as an Army cavalry officer in World War II and was later accused of being a Communist sympathizer during the Red Scare of the 1950s.
These Major League veterans of the Korean War exemplified bravery and sacrifice both on and off the field. They put their careers on hold to serve their country in a time of need and returned to baseball with a renewed sense of purpose and appreciation for the game. Their stories serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by all veterans, both in war and in peacetime, and their contributions to the game of baseball will never be forgotten.