Major League Baseball Goes to War

Visit our special on-line photo exhibit honoring players who were called into service by their country during World War II. Click here to see this tribute. These photos are from the personal collection of A's Society member, Charles Burkhardt from Topton, PA.

Hats Off To Our Heroes

WWII Vets were honored at our 2000 Reunion, click here for coverage of this memorable event.

Lou Brissie

Lou Brissie received serious wounds in action, and still managed a major league career. He is honored in the Veterans wing at the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. Please click here for more details on Mr. Brissie and his service in the armed forces during World War II.

Phil Marchildon

Phil Marchildon was the 1st Major League baseball player to be held a Prisoner of War. Click here to read an article by Society President, Mr. David Jordan about Mr. Marchildon and his service in the armed forces during World War II.

Bob Savage

Bob Savage was the first major league ball-player wounded during WWII. Click here to read Mr. Savage's story about his service in the armed forces during World War II and his days with the Philadelphia Athletics.

Hal Epps

Hal Epps' at the peak of his ability went off to serve Uncle Sam. He missed all of 1945 and 1946 serving in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II, and never played in the big leagues again. Click here to read Hal Epps -- Flychaser Supreme.

Gene Bearden

In 1943 Bearden was a machinist's mate aboard the 10,000-ton cruiser, the USS Helena. The Helena had been one of the lucky ships to survive the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, but she didn't come away unscathed. Click here to read Gene Bearden -- The Unsinkable Man in Brown.

Bob Neighbors

On August 8th, 1952, St. Louis Browns right-hander Duane Pillette toed the rubber, all set to face off against Cleveland Indians fireballer Bob Feller in a rather ordinary game at Sportsman's Park.On that same day half a world away in the hostile skies over North Korea, things were far from ordinary. The 3-man crew of a U.S. Air Force B-26 bomber, tail number 44-34698, was in distress. They'd been hit, and faced with no other alternative, the men reported that they were bailing out. The ill-fated U.S. airmen were 1st Lieutenant William L. Holcom, Staff Sergeant Grady M. Weeks, and ex-St. Louis Browns shortstop Major Robert O. Neighbors. Click here to read Bob Neighbors: A Hero Remembered.

An Interview with Lum Harris

Aa member of the A's from 1941 until 1944 when the Navy came calling. Click here for interview.