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Abstract

World War II was a crucial point in world history and many men could not escape the desire to fight and defend their country. One subsection of men that fought in the war is the many men that competed in Major League Baseball and its affiliate leagues, the minors and the Negro League. Players that served in the war lost valuable time in their playing careers, despite this many would eventually enter the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This study used an analysis of primary and second sources to determine where players served and analyze their pre- and post-war careers. Primary sources such as newspaper reports and interviews with the players themselves provide insight into the impact of the war on these players. The case study specifically focused on the careers of Warren Spahn, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, and Ted Williams. This research seeks to deepen the understanding of baseball during World War II and shed light onto the oftentimes unknown stories of these baseball legends. Each of these four players had promising careers and were inducted into the Hall of Fame despite missing several seasons to military service.

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