Legendary Boston Red Sox baseball player Ted Williams giving a thumbs-up from the cockpit of a Marine Corps Grumman F9F Panther fighter plane during his service as a combat aviator.
Everybody loves a doubleheader in baseball and that’s what fans are going to get at a pair of free exhibits this fall at Scottsdale Stadium.
One will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Giants’ Bobby Thomson playoff home run – “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World.”
The other will celebrate the Cactus League players who have worn our nation’s uniform. From fighting in wars to creating iconic American moments, many prominent Cactus League players have been shaped by military service.
The Cactus League Warriors exhibit will tell their stories, detail the impact military service has had on their careers and personal lives and honor those who have taken the solemn oath to protect America.
The percentage of Americans who have served in the military has changed dramatically over time – for both the population at large and Major League Baseball players.
In World War II, about 17 percent of American men served in uniform. Those included more than 500 Major League Baseball players, including 39 Hall of Famers. By the end of the war, 90 percent of MLB players active in 1941 had served in the military.
The U.S. was engaged in near-total war during that era, with mandatory drafts and strong social pressure to contribute. Baseball also served morale functions for troops, with leagues in military installations and exhibition games overseas.
Today, despite U.S. involvement in numerous wars and combat actions over the past 25 years, military service is relatively rare among the U.S. population and virtually nonexistent in today’s Major Leagues.
About 7 percent of U.S. adults have served in the Armed Forces. Only about 0.4 percent of Americans serve today on active duty, and another 0.3 percent serve in the reserves or National Guard.
What’s changed?
Smaller, regional wars require less manpower. The all-volunteer military, in place since 1973, has reduced the legal obligation for both the general population and professional athletes to enlist.
Modern baseball players are also highly compensated, earning millions of dollars annually. Interrupting a career—even temporarily—can entail enormous financial and competitive loss, unlike earlier eras.
Finally, patriotism expressed through sports today has shifted from direct enlistment to symbolic or civic demonstrations, including participation in Team USA competitions (like the World Baseball Classic).
Major League Baseball and the armed forces may seem like oil and water today, but for decades some of our greatest players were shaped by wearing a military uniform.
We are proud to honor their service and tell their often-forgotten military stories.
The Scottsdale Stadium exhibits are produced by the non-profit Arizona Baseball Legacy and Experience and sponsored by the City of Scottsdale.
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