On May 20, 1945, At Sportsman Park one-armed outfielder Pete Gray of the St. Louis Browns enjoys an incredible day against the New York Yankees. Gray makes three outstanding catches, collects four hits, drives in two runs, and scores the game-winning run during a doubleheader sweep of the Yankees.
May 6, 1945, baseball pioneer, Jackie Robinson, played his first game with the Kansas City Monarchs. He went 1-4 with an RBI double, scored a run and stole a base in the Monarchs 6-2 win over the Chicago American Giants! Two years later, Robinson would break Major League Baseball’s color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers….
April 26, 1945, includes the following caption: “Pete Gray, one-armed outfielder of the St. Louis Browns, is shown autographing a baseball for PFC Pat Gervace, 26, of Cleveland, who lost his arm in the Battle of Hürtgen Forest last December. Gervace, leaving the Browns’ dressing room with the autographed ball, said simply, ‘Pete Gray has…
On April 19, 1945, future Hall of Famer Joe Cronin of the Boston Red Sox breaks his leg running the bases. The injury will influence him to retire as a major league player. Cronin will continue to serve the Red Sox as their manager…
On April 18, 1945, one-armed outfielder Pete Gray makes his debut for the St. Louis Browns. Gray, one of many players recruited to perform during World War II, singles once in four at-bats. He will hit .218 in 234 at-bats in his only major league season.
On April 16, 1945, the Boston Red Sox give tryouts to three African-American players: Sam Jethroe, Jackie Robinson, and Marvin Williams. The three players work out at Fenway Park, but none are signed to contracts. Later in the season, Robinson will sign a minor league contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
On April 2, 1945, future Hall of Famer Don Sutton is born in Clio, Alabama. Sutton will make his debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1966. One of the most durable and consistent pitchers in MLB history, he was a 4X All-Star, led the NL in ERA in 1980, and finished in the top…
1945 – Tryouts are granted to pitcher Terris McDuffie and first baseman Dave Thomas when a group of black players appear at the Brooklyn Dodgers’ offices. The two players will work out at Ebbets Field in front of general manager Branch Rickey on April 7th.
On March 15, 1945, Bert Shepard, a one-legged pitcher, begins a successful tryout with the Washington Senators. Shepard had been gunned down east of Hamburg on his 34th mission as a P-38 fighter pilot, his life was saved by the doctor Lieutenant Ladislaus Loidl of the German Army, his leg was amputated. During the tryout…
On March 6, 1945, former major league catcher Harry O’Neill is killed in combat during World War II. The 27-year-old O’Neill becomes the second major leaguer to lose his life in the war. Elmer John Gedeon, a onetime outfielder with the Washington Senators, was killed in 1944. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Other Resources & Links …
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