Arnold Traxler
Ballplayers Decorated in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | July 11, 1917 Oakland, CA |
| Date and Place of Death: | December 4, 1961 Lafayette, CA |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Outfield |
| Rank: | Lieutenant Commander |
| Military Unit: | Torpedo Squadron 17 (VT-17) US Navy |
| Area Served: | Pacific Theater of Operations |
Arnold C. Traxler was born in Oakland, California, on July 11, 1917. He
attended the College of the Pacific in Stockton, where he was a star
halfback on the football team, and worked out with the Oakland Oaks of
the Pacific Coast League at the end of the 1937 season. Back with the
Oaks for spring training in 1938, Traxler was assigned – along with Bill
Rigney - to the Spokane Hawks of the Class B Western International
League. But after playing in just three games he was sent to the El Paso
Texans of the Class D Arizona-Texas League on a five-day trial. Traxler
impressed manager Jimmy Zinn and hit an impressive .330 in 97 games.
In 1939, the young outfielder advanced to the Joplin Miners – a New York
Yankees farm club - of the Class C Western Association and batted .283,
then went on to have a career year with the Wenatchee Chiefs of the
Class B Western International League in 1940. Traxler batted .310 with
the Chiefs and hit 26 home runs while driving in 118. In 1941, the
23-year-old began the season with the Augusta Tigers of the Class B
South Atlantic League where he was an all-star selection and, along with
Ralph Houk and Ferrell Anderson, was called up to the Binghamton Yankees
of the Class A Eastern League.
Traxler was obtained by the Dallas Rebels of the Class A1 Texas League
before being called to military service mid-season in 1942. He trained
as a pilot with the Navy, at Naval Air Station Dallas (Hensley Field),
Texas, earned his commission in January 1943, and served with Torpedo
Squadron 17 (VT-17) aboard the carrier USS Hornet (CV-12) in the Pacific
Theater. Lieutenant Traxler completed 33 missions as the pilot of a
Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber, including the first carrier-strike
against Tokyo in February 1945. During support of ground forces on Iwo
Jima, Lieutenant Traxler was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire
and had to be rescued from the sea by a destroyer.
For action on March 19, 1945, he was awarded the Navy Cross for
“extraordinary heroism in operations” against the Japanese Fleet in the
Kure Bay area of the inland sea, Japan. “His outstanding courage and
determined skill were at all times inspiring and in keeping with the
highest traditions of the United States Naval Service,” declared the
citation. Lieutenant Traxler also earned the Distinguished Flying Cross
and served as acting commanding officer of VT-17 in August 1945.
Arnold Traxler didn't return to baseball after the war. He worked as an
insurance salesman with the Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company in
San Francisco, California. He died unexpectedly of a cerebral hemorrhage
at his home in Lafayette, California, on December 4, 1961. He was only
44 years old, and is buried at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San
Bruno, California.
Date Added January 27, 2018
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