Hall of Fame Veterans

In times of national crisis, brave men and women across America nobly sacrifice their occupations and home life to defend their country in the U.S. military. Historically, baseball players have been no different. Hundreds of ballplayers have enlisted during their major league careers, many of them bypassing some of their prime seasons on the diamond. Others, like Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson, joined the armed forces after their playing days had come to an end. The following lists consist of Hall of Fame members who have defended America during times of war. The lists are sorted by military conflicts.

Printable List

The American Civil War

  • Morgan Bulkeley - U.S. Army

Morgan Bulkeley - BL-145-39a (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

World War I

  • Grover Alexander - Army
  • Oscar Charleston - Army
  • Ty Cobb - Army
  • Eddie Collins - Marines
  • Jocko Conlan - Navy
  • Red Faber - Navy
  • Warren Giles - Army
  • Burleigh Grimes - Navy
  • Harry Heilmann - Navy
  • Waite Hoyt - Army
  • George Kelly - Army
  • Larry MacPhail - Army
  • Rabbit Maranville - Navy
  • Rube Marquard - Navy
  • Christy Mathewson - Army
  • Herb Pennock - Navy
  • Sam Rice - Army
  • Branch Rickey - Army
  • Eppa Rixey - Army
  • Bullet Rogan - Army
  • Louis Santop - Navy
  • Joe Sewell - Army
  • George Sisler - Army
  • Tris Speaker - Navy
  • Casey Stengel – Navy
  • Jud Wilson - Army

 

Sergeant Alexander in the US Army, 1918. BL-1451.68WTg (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

World War II

  • Luke Appling - Army
  • Al Barlick - Coast Guard
  • Yogi Berra – Navy
  • Willard Brown - Army
  • Nestor Chylak - Army
  • Mickey Cochrane - Navy
  • Leon Day - Army
  • Bill Dickey - Navy
  • Joe DiMaggio - Army
  • Larry Doby - Navy
  • Bobby Doerr - Army
  • Bob Feller - Navy
  • Charlie Gehringer – Navy
  • Joe Gordon - Army
  • Hank Greenberg - Army
  • Billy Herman - Navy
  • Gil Hodges - Marines
  • Monte Irvin - Army
  • Ralph Kiner - Navy
  • Bob Lemon - Navy
  • Ted Lyons - Marines
  • Larry MacPhail - Army
  • Lee MacPhail - Navy
  • Johnny Mize - Navy
  • Stan Musial - Navy
  • Buck O'Neil - Navy
  • Pee Wee Reese - Navy
  • Phil Rizzuto - Navy
  • Robin Roberts - Army
  • Jackie Robinson - Army
  • Red Ruffing - Army
  • Red Schoendienst - Army
  • Enos Slaughter - Army
  • Duke Snider - Navy
  • Warren Spahn - Army
  • Bill Veeck - Marines
  • Hoyt Wilhelm - Army
  • Ted Williams - Marines
  • Early Wynn - Army

Captain Hank Greenberg, Army Air Corps - BL-723-63 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

The Korean War

  • Ernie Banks - Army
  • Whitey Ford - Army
  • Whitey Herzog - Army
  • Eddie Mathews - Navy
  • Willie Mays - Army
  • Ted Williams - Marines

Hall of Famer Ted Williams served as a U.S. Marine fighter pilot during both World War II and the Korean War. BL-1542-97 (National Baseball Hall of Fame Library)

Updated December 11, 2023