Ball Players who Served

[itjclarke]

Many of these were mentioned already, but there's no harm in repeating the appreciation...
1915 Cracker Jack Grover Alexander.jpgLeaf Jackie Robinson.jpg
1933 Goudey Moe Berg.jpgLeaf Joe Dimaggio front.jpg
1939-1946 Salutation Exhibits Ted Williams signed.jpg1938 Goudey Bob Feller signed.jpg

Dean Davenport.jpg
Also pictured above is Doolittle Raider- Lt Dean Davenport, co-pilot of the "Ruptured Duck", which was the B-25 depicted in the WWII classic "30 Seconds Over Tokyo" (and then terribly and falsely in the really crappy movie "Pearl Harbor"). He was also one of my Dad's superior officers during the Vietnam War and by all accounts a very good man.

Thanks to all who've served.

Originally Posted by 71buc

I love the P51 Mustang in the background[/url]

Love the pic of Greenberg... the plane is nagging at me though. I don't disagree it's a P-51 but it's got 3 props. I think the only 3 prop P-51 was the P-51A, which didn't really see much if any action and was quickly replaced by the B with its more powerful Rolls engine and 4 props.. and then later the iconic D version (bubble canopy). Wish I could see more of the plane/landing gear, tail, canopy, to know for sure.

[the 'stache]

One of baseball's all-time greatest power hitters, the late, great Ralph Kiner


Ralph Kiner led the National League in home runs each of his first seven seasons in the Majors.

From Baseball in wartime:

Kiner joined the Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League in 1943, but within a few weeks he was inducted in the Navy. As a cadet he attended St Mary's Pre-Flight School in California and earned his pilot's wings and commission at Corpus Christi in December 1944. He flew Martin PBM Mariners from Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station in Hawaii on submarine patrols, accumulating 1,200 flying hours and playing hardly any baseball during that time.

Martin PBM Mariner Patrol Plane

Thank you, Mr. Kiner, and thank all of your fellow ballplayers for their service to our country!!!!