Bob Ray
Ballplayers Wounded in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | Date unknown Waterbury, CT |
| Date and Place of Death: | Unknown |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Third Base |
| Rank: | Private First-Class |
| Military Unit: | 42nd Infantry Division US Army |
| Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
Robert C. "Bob" Ray was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. A third baseman,
he was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies and was with the Utica Braves
of the Class A Eastern League in 1943. After just two games, Ray was
ordered to report to his draft board, but was able to return to the
Braves in the hope of playing until early July. However, after playing
21 games under veteran manager Wally Schang, Ray sprained his ankle when
his spikes caught in the bag running to second. He recovered from his
injury in late June, but just in time to report for military service.
Ray served as a private first-class with the 42nd "Rainbow" Infantry
Division from Marseilles in France to the defense of the Rhine, spending
much of that time as a company scout. In March 1945, the 42nd Division
went on the offensive, attacking through the Hardt Mountains, and broke
through the Siegfried Line. It was then that Ray was seriously wounded
by German machine-gun fire. His throwing arm and right side were hit and
his shoulder-blade was shattered.
Ray was returned to the United States, where he was hospitalized at
Northington General Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Within months, Ray
was thinking about his baseball career and was practising taking
grounders with other GIs at the hospital although his injuries were not
allowing him to use his arm in overhand throwing.
Bob Ray didn’t make it back to organized baseball. In 1948, he was
presented with a lifetime pass to all major and minor league games.
George M. Trautman, president of the National Association of
Professional Baseball Clubs announced in May of that year, that passes
would be made available to "all players whose careers were ended because
of injuries or illness received in the line of duty."
Date Added December 20, 2017 Updated January 28, 2018
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