How many Major League players served in the Military.?

Question

I would like to know how many and who the players were that served in the military.

Answer 1

Below is a list of Hall of Famers who served in the military; I'm not sure where a comprehensive list could be found.

Answer 2

That would take a great deal of research. Even the Baseball Encyclopedia only lists when players spent all or most of the season in military service, and literally dozens of them served in World Wars I and II. Many, many others have been in the Army Reserve or similar organizations, but even during the Vietnam War managed to avoid being sent overseas. Tug McGraw, for instance, was one of them, as were Nolan Ryan and Bud Harrelson. (I learned in the book "The Year the Mets Lost Last Place" that Harrelson was a sergeant.)

Most players did not see combat; the Baseball Encyclopedia lists only one player actually killed in combat, if I recall correctly. Like Joe DiMaggio, many played for Army or Navy teams at stateside posts and often appeared in exhibitions.

Two players who did see combat were Ted Williams (Marine pilot, shot down in Korea) and Warren Spahn (Army lieutenant, fought the Germans from Normandy through VE-Day).

Jackie Robinson was an Army lieutenant in World War II and was court-martialed when he refused to move to the rear of a bus. He was acquitted but he resigned his commission as a result.

Answer 3

Back in the day, many cut short their playing days to fight in World War II. Many came back to play after the war.

Answer 4

Nolan Ryan did army reserves

Answer 5

probably like 20 maybe

Answer 6

alot