Living Veterans of World War II and Major League Baseball - Bleeding Yankee Blue (blog)
August 14, 1945, 70 years ago today: V-J Day, Victory over Japan. Afraid of more nuclear devastation, Japan surrenders to the Allies, ending World War II. Every anniversary, the number of living World War II veterans becomes fewer and fewer. An 18-year-old kid who enlisted toward the end would now be 88 years old. As of today, there are 66 living men who bought fought in World War II and played in Major League Baseball. Here they are, with 5 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, in bold. OF, signed by the Yankees but never played for them, playing mostly with the Boston Braves and Chicago Cubs from 1950 to 1953. * Vic Barnhart, born September 1, 1922, from Hagerstown, Maryland. SS & 3B, played 74 games with the 1944, '45 and '46 Pittsburgh Pirates. * Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra , born May 12, 1925, from St. Louis. C & OF, he is the last surviving member along with Bobby Brown (see below) of the 1947 and 1949 World Champion Yankees. Also won World Series in 1950, '51, '52, '53, '56, '58, '61 and '62 -- a record 10 rings. Also coach with World Champion Mets in '69 and Yankees in '77 and '78. Only man to manage both Yankees (1964) & Mets (1973) to Pennants. Is now the earliest living manager of a Pennant winner. * Cornelius "Neil" Berry, born January 11, 1922, from Kalamazoo,. Source: unclemikesmusings.blogspot.com
