In 1947, Warren won 21 games and led the league in ERA . In 1948, Spahn and Johnny Sain's clutch pitching in Sept.'s pennant drive inspired the verse 'Spahn and Sain/ pray for rain'. The Boston Braves won their first pennant in 34 years, they each won one game in the world series but the Cleveland Indians won the series 4 games to 2.

Spahn hit 35 career homers as a pitcher; still a NL record. He pitched on 3 pennant winning teams.

This Hall of Famer spent 3 1/2 years in the army World War II and received a Bronze Star as well as a Purple Heart.

In 1960, Warren Spahn no-hit the Phillies and in 1961, at age 40, he threw another no-hitter against the S.F. Giants. Spahn's 63 lifetime shutouts are still a NL record for left handed pitchers. 'A pitcher needs two pitches; one they are looking for and one to cross them up', Warren Spahn.

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Baseball History

We have over 7,000 baseball players listed on our Search, including Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Ty Cobb, Ernie Banks, Babe Ruth, Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Cy Young and 1000s of other players

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In 1938, Hank Greenberg hit 58 homers, only five players in history have hit more; includes the 2001 season.

This devasting RBI man, is tied for 1st. place in baseball history with .92 RBI's per games played (almost one RBI per/game). Hank Greenberg's highs in RBI's for a season were 150, 170, 183. What a runs producer this Hall of Famer was!

Greenberg spent over four years in the U.S. Military during World War 2, which limited his playing years to only 9 1/2 years. In 1945, he played some games while on leave from the military.

On Sept. 30, 1945, the Detroit Tigers needing one more victory to win the pennant, Greenberg hit a bases loaded home run to win the ball game, in the final game of the season, as the Detroit Tigers won the pennant. The Tigers then went on to beat the Chicago Cubs in the World Series.

Hank Greenberg's career totals include a .313 lifetime batting average. Note these great results........ 1394 games, 1276 RBI's, 379 doubles, 71 triples, and he hit 331 home runs. His extra bases total up to 781 in a little over 9 years, almost an average of 90 extra bases a year. We salute Mr. Hank Greenberg for his great hitting achievements and for his time spent in the U.S. Military.

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Baseball Historian

Signed by the New York Yankees, Lazzeri a hard line drive hitter, drove home 114 runs (2nd in the league ) in his rookie year; his hitting and excellent fielding gave the Yankees the push they needed to win their first pennant of what was to become their first of many in the late 1920's and 1930's.

Lazzeri was a main part of the Yankee powerhouse team which included Ruth& Gehrig. Hall of Famer, Tony Lazzeri batted over .300 five different times and had over 100 RBI's in seven different seasons.

Tony Lazzeri's career stuff include a lifetime batting average of .292; hits 1840; games played 1,739, doubles 334, triples 115, and 178 HR's. Lazzeri scored 986 runs and had 1,191 RBI's. His speed shows with his 148 career stolen bases.

In 1990 Luke Appling was voted the greatest Chicago White Sox player in history! Appling fouled off pitch after pitch until he got the one he wanted, fans in the ballpark would cheer 'Luke, Luke' after every foul ball. Being a popular player, Luke Appling was picked for eight All-Star games. He was an excellent fielding shortstop and led the league in assists seven different times, and in putouts twice. Appling was noted for his great fielding range.

Appling was the White Sox lead-off-hitter, three times he drew over 100 base-on-balls and his career on-base-pct was .399. He played over 20 years and in 2422 games he struckout only 528 times! Luke Appling batted over .300 in 15 different years including 9 straight seasons. In eight different years he scored over 90 runs.

This famous Hall of Famer career stats are .310 batting average, stole 178 bases, walked 1302 times, 528 strikeouts, scored over 1300 runs. Luke Appling, what a all-around player, you played to win! Baseball fans miss your style of play.

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Baseball Players

Around 70 percent of the men listed on American Heroes, including Jackie Robinson, served in the US Military, and we are proud to call them American Heroes... many who served saw battle action during World War I or II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War or were veterans in other conflicts.

Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson joined the military in 1918, was sent overseas to the Western Front, got a whiff of poison gas which caused Tuberculosis in both lungs and died in 1925 at age 45.

Red Sox slugger Ted Williams flew 42 missions over Korea in 1951-52 after also serving during World War II.

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