Veteran Hall of Famers: M
In honor of Veterans Day, 11 November, I have compiled a list of Hall of Famers who served in the military. We are familiar with the accomplishments these men achieved in their baseball uniform. Let’s pay tribute to their victories in a different uniform. Military service is not easy for anyone. Many of these Hall of Famers did not volunteer but did answer when the nation called. In the eleventh month, we praise these fine Americans for their sacrifice and service.
Larry MacPhail Sr — MacPhail Sr was in the US Army during WWI. MacPhail was involved in a covert mission to kidnap former German Emperor Kaiser Wilhelm II. The attempt failed and everyone involved narrowly escaped with their lives.
https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/macphail-larry
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/larry-macphail/
Larry MacPhail Jr — After a delayed entry into the Navy, MacPhail finally was assigned to the radar ship USS Turner, in May 1944, and saw no combat.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/lee-macphail/
Rabbit Maranville — Rabbit was in the Navy towards the end of WWI. He held a position of a gunner on USS Pennsylvania.
https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/maranville-rabbit
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rabbit-maranville/
Rube Marquard — Marquard’s time in the US Navy Reserves was extremely short, only three months (August 1918 to November 1918).
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/rube-marquard/
Eddie Mathews — Korean War interrupted Mathews’ baseball career only for a short time. He received a hardship discharge from the Navy after a few months.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/eddie-mathews/
Willie Mays — One of the most exciting ball players to watch, Mays had a very uneventful military career. Mays “missed” most of 1952 and all 1953 while in the Army, where he played baseball.
https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/mays-willie
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/willie-mays/
Bill McGowan — Uncreditable sources state McGowan served in the Armed Services during the first World War.
Johnny Mize — Mize traded his bat for a rifle during World War II. After training, the Navy put a bat back into his hands and put him back on a baseball diamond.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/johnny-mize/
Stan Musial — Musial was discharged, after only 13 months, from the Navy in 1946. Like others, Stan only saw action on the ball field.
