MLB Power Rankings: 20 Hall of Famers Who Served the USA During Wartime

MLB has had an abundance of men who left the game to go serve our great country. It was actually quite common back during the days of World War I and II.

By my count, there are 51 members of the baseball Hall of Fame who served in the military during wartime.  

In honor of Memorial Day, let's take a look at some of the brave men who left the game they loved to go help protect the freedoms we enjoy today—and every day.

Most importantly, let's thank all of the brave men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and all of our service members who have served and/or still do serve today.

Here are 20 MLB Hall of Famers—in alphabetical order—who served our country during wartime.

Dedicated to:

LCPL Chance Phelps

Lima Battery, 3rd BN, 11th Marines

July 14th, 1984 - April 9th, 2004

Battle of Ramadi

LIMA BROTHERS!!!

Ernie Banks

Ernie Banks spent two years in the Army during the Korean War before becoming the first African-American player in Chicago Cubs history.

Banks was a 14-time All-Star and two-time NL MVP with over 500 career home runs. He entered the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1977. 

Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra was enlisted in the Navy during the heart of World War II—taking part in the D-Day landing in Normandy.

He was an 18-time All-Star who helped bring 13 World Series championships back to the Bronx. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972 on his second ballot.

Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb—one of baseball's all-time greats—spent time in the US Army and served during World War I.

Cobb ended his career with a .367 batting average—the highest in the history of MLB. He was elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ever ballot in 1936. Cobb received more votes than any other player.

Eddie Collins

Eddie Collins served in the United States Marine Corps during World War I.

The speedy Collins ended is career with over 3,300 hits and 700 stolen bases. He was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 1939—his fourth year on the ballot.

Joe DiMaggio

Joe DiMaggio served in the Air Force during World War II from 1943-45. He played for the Yankees the seven seasons before and the six seasons after his service time.

Joltin' Joe was an All-Star in each of his 13 seasons—during which time he helped bring New York nine World Series championships. He owns one of the greatest MLB records of all time—the 56-game hitting streak.

Red Faber

Red Faber served in the US Navy during World War I—taking a year off from baseball in 1918 (at the age of 30) to serve his country.

When Faber retired, he was the last "legal" spit-ball pitcher in the AL. He won 254 career games and was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's Committee in 1964. 

Bob Feller

Bob Feller was the first MLB player to enlist following the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941—joining the US Navy for four years. He was a Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama and is the only Chief Petty Officer in the Hall of Fame.

Feller was a first-ballot entrant into the Hall of Fame in 1962 after winning 266 games with 2,500-plus strikeouts. He was also an eight-time All-Star.

Whitey Ford

Whitey Ford served in the US Army during the Korean War in 1951-52. 

Upon rejoining the Yankees in 1953, Ford ran off 10 All-Star selections while winning 236 career games. He helped New York win six World Series championships and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1974. 

Charlie Gehringer

Charlie Gehringer—one of the greatest second basemen of all time—spent time in the US Navy during World War II.

"The Mechanical Man"—known for his defensive prowess—batted .320 over his career and narrowly missed out on 3,000 hits. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1949.

Monte Irvin

Monte Irvin served in the US Army during World War II from 1943-45. He was one of the first African-American's to join MLB after Jackie Robinson broke the color line in 1947.

Irvin was a five-time Negro League All-Star and one-time MLB All-Star. He helped the San Francisco Giants win the 1954 World Series and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973.

Ralph Kiner

Ralph Kiner—one of the best home run hitters of all time—served in the US Navy during World War II.

Injuries cut Kiner's MLB career short—but he amassed nearly 370 home runs in only 10 seasons. The six-time All-Star was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1975. 

Christy Mathewson

Christy Mathewson enlisted in the US Army for World War I—serving alongside another legend in Ty Cobb.

Mathewson is one of the greatest pitcher's in MLB history—retiring in 1916 with 373 career victories. He threw 79 shutouts and won the pitcher's Triple Crown twice before being inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame class in 1936.

Willie Mays

Willie Mays—arguably the greatest player in the history of MLB—served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Mays—an MLB-record 24-time All-Star—did it all. He ended his career with 660 home runs and over 1,900 RBI to go along with nearly 3,300 hits. Mays entered the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1979.

Eddie Mathews

Eddie Mathews—one of the most underrated sluggers in MLB history—served in the US Navy during the Korean War.

Mathews ended his career with 512 home runs and 1,453 RBI. He was a 12-time All-Star and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1978.

Stan Musial

Stan Musial—one of the greatest St. Louis Cardinals of all time—left the team briefly in 1945 to serve in the US Navy during World War II.

Musial is one of the greatest hitters in MLB history—ending his career with a .331 batting average, more than 3,600 hits and 475 home runs. He was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1969.

Johny Mize

Johnny Mize—the only player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs in a season while striking out less than 50 times—served in the US Navy during World War II. 

In all, Mize was a 10-time All-Star with 359 career home runs. He was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veteran's committee in 1981.

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson was drafted into the US Army in 1942—serving two-years during World War II.

After breaking the MLB color line in 1947, Robinson spent 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was the 1947 NL Rookie of the Year and the 1949 NL MVP. Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame on his first ballot in 1962 and his No. 42 jersey is retired throughout all of baseball.  

Warren Spahn

Warren Spahn enlisted in the US Army in 1942 and served in World War II—earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for bravery in battle.

Spahn is arguably the best left-handed pitcher in MLB history—ending his career with 363 victories and over 2,500 strikeouts. The 17-time All-Star was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1973. 

Tris Speaker

Tris Speaker—MLB's all-time doubles leader with 792—served in the US Navy during World War I.

Speaker is also the career leader in outfield assists with 449 and his career average of .345 is fifth of all time. He was a second ballot Hall of Famer in 1937.

Ted Williams

Ted Williams was a pilot during two wars—World War II and the Korean War—and served in both the US Navy and the United State Marine Corps.

Williams still had time to play ball and is known as "The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived." The 19-time All-Star slugged more than 500 home runs and was a two-time AL MVP. He was a first ballot Hall of Famer in 1966.