Hall of Fame Baseball Players Who Served in WWII

It’s summertime, which means the best of the professional baseball teams are competing for the top playoff spots come fall. While contemporary professional baseball players have a reputation for being well-paid divas, it wasn’t always this way. There was a time when even the most famous, well-paid professional player would drop his career in a heartbeat to serve his country. Indeed, there are more than a few Hall of Fame baseball players who served in World War II.

Some of the best players of all time put their careers on hold to serve in the United States armed forces during WWII. While some players scored relatively cushy gigs playing for interservice baseball teams like Joe Dimaggio, other great players fought in combat, with some even earning considerable injuries in the process. In this article, we will discover more about Hall of Fame baseball players who served in WWII. (For other soldier celebrities, discover 28 famous actors who served in the U.S. military .)

To compile a list of Hall of Fame baseball players who served in WWII, 24/7 Tempo consulted a variety of sports, history, and news publications including Baseball Hall, War History Online, and Bleacher Report. Next, we selected players who served during World War II with notable career baseball records. After that, we confirmed aspects of each player’s career and biography using sites like Britannica and the Baseball Almanac.

Yogi Berra

Beyond being a pure quote machine, Berra is one of the few Hall of Fame baseball players who served in WWII. Born in St. Louis and raised in a strong Italian community, Berra signed with the New York Yankees in 1943. Before starting his professional baseball career, however, Berra served in WWII in the United States Navy. In his role as a gunner’s mate, he fought in the Normandy Landings, firing rockets and machine guns at German defenses. During Operation Dragoon, Berra took a shot to the hand, qualifying him for the Purple Heart Medal.

This wound led to increasingly safer positions in the military until he was honorably discharged in 1946. That same year, the Yankees called him up. From there, Berra played 19 seasons in MLB. He became a 10-time World Series champion, an 18-time All-Star, and hit 358 home runs. As one of only six players to win the American League Most Valuable Player Award three times, Berra was a shoo-in for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Joe DiMaggio

By the time WWII commenced, DiMaggio was already considered a worthy contender for the Baseball Hall of Fame. He felt a call to serve his country, however, and enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in February 1943. Though he rose to the rank of sergeant rather quickly, DiMaggio failed to see much action during his service. Instead, he spent most of the war playing exhibition games with other enlisted players. His time in the military became so comfortable, he gained 10 pounds. Embarrassed by his activities, DiMaggio requested combat duty but the government turned him down.

Upon the war’s end, DiMaggio returned to his rightful place on the Yankees lineup. By the end of his professional baseball career, he was considered one of the best players of all time. He was a 13-time All-Star, nine-time World Series champion, and three-time American League Most Valuable Player. Though the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him in 1955, DiMaggio still holds the MLB record for a 56-game hitting streak. After baseball, he stayed in the public spotlight thanks to his brief but well-known marriage to actress Marilyn Monroe.

Warren Spahn

Born in upstate New York, Spahn became enamored with baseball after attending a Buffalo Bisons baseball game as a child. Though he set his sights on first base, the position was already taken, so he reluctantly became a pitcher instead. It proved a fortuitous choice, as Spahn led his high school to two championships, pitched two undefeated seasons, and even threw a no-hitter. This quickly led to a professional baseball career, starting with the Atlanta Braves in 1942. After finishing his first season, however, Spahn enlisted in the United States Army. He saw action during the Battle of the Bulge and Ludendorff Bridge, ultimately winning a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

Though he had missed three full seasons, Spahn returned to the major leagues at the age of 25. He went on to become a 17-time All-Star, World Series champion, and Cy Young Award winner. Many say Spahn would have had an even more impressive record if he hadn’t missed so many seasons.

Regarding this, Spahn said, “People say that my absence from the major leagues may have cost me a chance to win 400 games. But I really don’t know about that. I matured a lot in three years and think I was better equipped to handle major league hitters at 25 than I was at 22. And I pitched till I was 44. Maybe I wouldn’t have been able to do that otherwise.”

Phil Rizzuto

After a notable high school career playing football and baseball, Rizzuto signed with the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1937. Once called up to the majors, Rizzuto became a World Series champion. During his rookie year, he failed to hit well. He turned it around the next year, however, when he led all hitters on the team. WWII delayed his career after Rizzuto enlisted in the United States Navy. While in service, Rizzuto led a comfortable existence, spending most of his time playing for the Navy baseball team.

After the war ended, Rizzuto quickly returned to the Yankees. Though he faced a contentious relationship with the Yankees manager at different points, Rizzuto quickly became one of the team’s most beloved shortstops. By the end of his career, Rizzuto became a five-time All-Star, seven-time World Series champion, and American League Most Valuable Player. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him in 1994.

Jackie Robinson

Unlike other players on this list, Robinson needs little introduction. A natural athlete, Robinson became a four-sport athlete at Pasadena Junior College and later, UCLA. There, Robinson became a star player for the college’s football team. After college, the United States drafted Robinson and assigned him to a segregated Army cavalry. In a moment of foreshadowing, his military career practically ended in July 1944. That’s because he was court-martialed for refusing to move to the back of a military bus. After the military, Robinson made his way into the Negro Baseball Leagues where his acumen caught the eye of major league recruiters.

Soon after, the Brooklyn Dodgers drafted Robinson and helped usher in the end of racial segregation in baseball. Though tensions remained high for his first few years in the majors, Robinson quickly dissuaded naysayers with his incredible playing ability. He finished his career with a .313 batting average, six All-Star awards, a World Series championship, and an American League Most Valuable Player award. Due to his nonviolent approach to racial segregation, Robinson became an inspiration for the Civil Rights Movement. In 1962, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Robinson.

Ted Williams

Born and raised in sunny San Diego, Williams showed a natural ability for baseball throughout his childhood. After the Red Sox signed him in 1939, he quickly became one of the best hitters in the sport. Williams became the last player to hit over .400 in a single season only two years later.

In 1943, however, Williams enlisted in the military. There, he joined the Navy Reserve before being assigned to active duty a year later. His celebrity status, however, put him in a comfortable position. For most of his military career, Williams played on various military baseball teams. Discharged in January 1946, Williams rejoined the Red Sox and quickly returned to form.

By the end of his professional baseball career, Williams became arguably one of the greatest players ever. A 19-time All-Star and six-time AL Batting champion, he hit 521 home runs and finished his career with an incredible .344 batting average. Indeed, Williams still holds the record for his .482 career on-base percentage. In 1966, the Baseball Hall of Fame rightfully inducted Williams. (For more great baseball knowledge, learn iconic quotes about life and baseball from Mickey Mantle .)

Gil Hodges

The son of an Indiana coal miner, Hodges took to athletics as a child and flourished as a four-sport athlete in high school. His record appeared so good that he quickly dropped out of school to join the Brooklyn Dodgers. Upon making his debut at the age of 19, Hodges became one of the Hall of Fame baseball players who served in WWII. After enlisting in the United States Marine Core, Hodges earned a Bronze Star while acting as an anti-aircraft gunner in the battles of Tinian and Okinawa. After being honorably discharged, Hodges returned to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.

From there, he became a star player on the Dodgers roster, earning a place among the oft-touted “Boys of Summer” group of Dodger players, which included Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider. By the end of his career, Hodges became an eight-time All-Star, a three-time World Series champion, and a three-time Golden Glove Award winner. Once, in the summer of 1950, Hodges even hit four home runs in a single game. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Hodges in 2022 for his exemplary record.

Pee Wee Reese

Another one of the Hall of Fame baseball players who served in WWII was Pee Wee Reese. Born Harold Peter Henry Reese, he earned the nickname Pee Wee for being a childhood champion marbles player. Due to his small frame, however, Reese didn’t take up baseball properly until his senior year of high school.

He stuck with it, and by 1938, became one of the top prospects in Minor League Baseball. This led to the Brooklyn Dodgers calling him up to the major leagues in 1940. Though he floundered his first two seasons, by 1942, Reese made the All-Star team. The next year, however, Reese enlisted in the United States Navy.

The Navy shipped him to the Pacific Theater, where Reese spent most of his time playing on the Aiea Naval Hospital baseball team. During this time, the Dodgers slipped badly in the standings. Once Reese returned to the team in 1946, he helped take the Dodgers to the 1946 National League Pennant. By the time he retired, Reese earned placement on the All-Star team 10 times, won two World Series championships, and held the National League stolen base record in 1952. In 1984, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Reese.

Mickey Cochrane

Unlike most of the other players on this list, Cochrane enjoyed a long and illustrious career as a Hall of Fame baseball player long before he served in WWII. A multi-sport athlete at Boston University, Cochrane made his professional baseball debut in 1925.

Three years later, he became the American League’s Most Valuable Player before appearing in the World Series for three consecutive years. While many consider Cochrane to have lost the 1931 World Series for giving up a stolen base, he still holds the record for the highest batting average for a catcher at .320.

Though he suffered a near-fatal head injury in the late 1930s, Cochrane nevertheless enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. Commissioned as a lieutenant, he spent most of the war overseeing the training of recruits as well as coaching a military baseball team. He later returned to baseball in the capacity of a manager before becoming a car dealership owner. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted him in 1947.

Leon Day

Born into an impoverished family in Virginia, Day became obsessed with baseball at an early age. This led to various stints on teams in the area including the Mount Winans Athletic Club. At age 17, Day dropped out of high school to join the semi-professional Silver Moons baseball team.

After catching the eye of scouts, Day made his Negro Leagues debut in 1934. Quickly, Day became recognized as one of the most versatile players in the history of the game. Day could play any position besides catcher with noticeable ability. He also had a natural ability for pitching. In September 1943, however, the United States drafted Day into military service.

In his military capacity, Day served as part of the 818th Amphibian Battalion, landing on Utah Beach six days after Operation Overlord. After the war ended, Day stayed in the service and played in various military baseball exhibitions. On May 5, 1946, he returned to professional baseball. Though he hadn’t pitched in years, he threw a no-hitter his first time back on the mound. By the end of his career, Day earned a Negro World Series championship and was a nine-time All-Star. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Day in 1995.

Hank Greenberg

Born into a Jewish family in New York City, Greenberg took a liking to baseball at an early age. At age 18, the New York Yankees signed Greenberg (pictured at right with Lou Gehrig). Since his favorite position of first base was taken, Greenberg remarkably turned down the offer. Instead, he attended New York University on an athletic scholarship before signing with the Detroit Tigers in 1930. Though he flourished on the team, helping the Tigers earn a World Series championship during his second season, fans disliked Greenberg for missing games in adherence to his Jewish faith.

While he helped bring great acclaim to the Tigers, Greenberg became the first American League player to register for the nation’s peacetime draft in 1940. Though he was released two days before Pearl Harbor, Greenberg quickly reenlisted. He then served in the China-India-Burma Theater for six months. Like many of the Hall of Fame baseball players who served in WWII, however, Greenberg’s career statistics suffered from missed games.

He later returned to Major League Baseball and became one of the best players in Tigers history. His career highlights include being a five-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion, and a four-time American League home run leader. In 1956, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Greenberg.

Luke Appling

Though professional baseball player Appling was born left-handed, he switched to his right hand to play a coveted shortstop position. After signing with the Atlanta Crackers, the Chicago White Sox bought him in 1930. Though his MLB career started slow, he quickly became one of the team’s most coveted players.

In 1944, Appling missed an entire season for the White Sox due to his enlistment in the United States Army. Nevertheless, he returned to professional baseball the following year and hit .309, .314, and .301 in his next three seasons. This led to selection for the All-Star team seven times and two awards for American League batting champion. In 1964, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Appling.

Johnny Mize

In many ways, Mize was destined for baseball. He was the cousin of the legendary Ty Cobb, and his second cousin later married Babe Ruth. While Mize came up through the St. Louis Cardinals minor league system, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds. A groin injury, however, voided the deal, and he stayed with the Cardinals for several years.

He quickly set about earning home run records and a Most Valuable Player Award. In the process, he helped elevate the standing of the Cardinals. Between 1943 and 1945, Mize entered military service. There, he shined as part of the Great Lakes Naval Station baseball team.

After the war, Mize returned to professional baseball for the New York Giants. Despite setbacks from injuries and abysmal seasons, Mize still managed to hit home run records and help bring various teams to victory. By career’s end, Mize was a 10-time All-Star, five-time World Series champion, and four-time National League home run leader. The Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Mize in 1981.

Stan Musial

From an early age, Musial showed an incredible aptitude for baseball. After playing on various local teams in informal settings, the St. Louis Cardinals signed him in 1938. Upon making his major league debut in 1941, Musial quickly established himself as a reliable hitter.

After the Cardinals won the World Series his rookie year, Musial continued to elevate his game, leading the National League in six different offensive categories. In January 1945, Musial became one of the Hall of Fame baseball players who served in WWII after enlisting in the United States Navy.

Soon he returned to the Cardinals and Musial’s career reached newfound heights. He earned the nickname “Stan the Man” for his incredibly consistent hitting game. By the end of his career, Musial earned an incredible 24 selections for the All-Star team, seven National League batting championships, and three World Series rings. In 1969, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Musial for his exemplary career.

Bill Veeck

While Veeck certainly made his bones in baseball, he is best remembered as an award-winning baseball manager. Reared in the art of sports management from his father who owned the Chicago Cubs, Veeck at various times owned teams like the St. Louis Browns, the Cleveland Indians, and the Chicago White Sox. As team president of the Indians, Veeck began integration in baseball after signing Larry Doby in 1947.

Though he was a co-owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, Veeck served for three years in the United States Marine Corps. While serving, an artillery piece crushed his leg, leading to over 36 operations throughout his lifetime. Besides being a World Series champion in 1948, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Bill Veeck in 1991. (For notables who had a rough go of service, discover famous people who endured life as prisoners of war .)

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