Major League Baseball Player. He was the first baseman for the 1950 Phillies "Whiz Kids." Two-Time All-Star (once for the Cubs, once for the Phils). During World War II (WWII), he served in the U.S. Army. During Operation Cartwheel, he saved the life of a soldier by preventing further blood loss with safety pins. For his military service, he received four Bronze Stars. While the Philadelphia Phillies were in Chicago to play the Cubs in 1949, he was shot in the chest by a deranged female fan who was obsessed with him. He was severely injured and missed the rest of the 1949 season, but recovered to play in all of the Phillies pennant winning 1950 season games. The incident was the real-life inspiration for Bernard Malamud's baseball novel "The Natural," which was made into a 1984 movie starring Robert Redford.
Major League Baseball Player. He was the first baseman for the 1950 Phillies "Whiz Kids." Two-Time All-Star (once for the Cubs, once for the Phils). During World War II (WWII), he served in the U.S. Army. During Operation Cartwheel, he saved the life of a soldier by preventing further blood loss with safety pins. For his military service, he received four Bronze Stars. While the Philadelphia Phillies were in Chicago to play the Cubs in 1949, he was shot in the chest by a deranged female fan who was obsessed with him. He was severely injured and missed the rest of the 1949 season, but recovered to play in all of the Phillies pennant winning 1950 season games. The incident was the real-life inspiration for Bernard Malamud's baseball novel "The Natural," which was made into a 1984 movie starring Robert Redford.
Bio by: RPD2
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