Memorial Day:fallen soldiers(players)

[joeadcock]

Michey Cochrane, severed in US Navy during WWII.
Died 1962

[joeadcock]

Ty Cobb with the Matty was in US Army, GAS DIVISION

[jerseygary]

Besides being a baseball memorabilia collector, I am also am very interested in military history. For a year I have been writing a blog where I illustrate and write a story about ballplayers who are overlooked by history or are otherwise interesting. Sometimes I get to tie my two interests together, like writing about the death of "Harvard Eddie" Grant, killed while leading a battalion in relief of the infamous "Lost Battalion." As I'm sure most of you guys know, Grant was the former 3rd Baseman of the Phillies, Reds and N.Y. Giants and was a very popular character with the NY sportswriters before the war. He was the only major league player killed in WWI and I thought Memorial day would be a great opportunity to remember his sacrifice as well as the strange history of his stolen memorial plaque that once stood in the Polo Grounds and where John McGraw led a solomn ceremony every year to mark his friend's sacrifice. The story is too long to post here, but if you are interested, please go to my site at:
www.infinitecardset.blogspot.com
Direct Link to Story:
http://infinitecardset.blogspot.com/...orial-day.html

[Big Ben]

First and most importantly, thank you to everyone who has served our country.

One of my favorite players from the 1930's-40's is Cecil Travis who suffered frostbite at the Battle of the Bulge and returned from service in World War II with a Bronze Star and three Battle Stars.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Cecil_Travis

[Tim Kindler]

Thanks to all of the men and women in the history of our country who have died keeping us free so that folks like us can enjoy our families, freedoms, and hobbies. Rest in Peace.

Matty qualifies even though he wasn't killed in action. While he was in the Army getting ready to serve in WWI, he was accidently poisoned during a training exercise by gas which led to his death just a few years later. The strange thing was that Cobb was in that training exercise as well but wasn't affected by the gas.

[jerseygary]

I would think that Matty's death does qualify as giving his life for his country. The story I read was that Cobb and Matty were indeed part of the same training exercise, but Matty didn't put his mask on quick enough and unfortunately got a snootful of gas. He told Cobb this after the exercise was over. A terrible shame and needless accident.

[joeadcock]

Memorial Day has now passed for this year. Though as one person, I can never be appreciative enough, I want to thank all men and women who gave their lives for our country. May God comfort those families who gave their children for what we now enjoy.

In all respect.



Frank