Mike Auer
Ballplayers Wounded in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | May 13, 1920 nr. Mott, ND |
| Date and Place of Death: | July 31, 2010 Denver, CO |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | Captain |
| Military Unit: | Company A, 19th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division US Army |
| Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
Michael J. Auer, the son of Louis and Alice Auer, was born on May 13,
1920, on a farm near Mott, North Dakota. His family moved to Denver,
Colorado, in 1934, and he graduated from St. Francis de Sales High
School in 1938. After high school, he worked as a freight clerk in
Denver and played for numerous local baseball teams, before entering
military service with the Army in December 1942.
Auer served with Company A of the 19th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th
Armored Division, in France and Germany. He commanded an armored
infantry platoon in combat and received a battlefield commission as a
second Lieutenant in January 1945, as well as the Distinguished Service
Cross for extraordinary heroism. Attaining the rank of captain, he was
also awarded the Silver Star and earned the Purple Heart for wounds
received in combat.
By earning the Distinguished Service Cross (the second highest military
award of the US Army during World War II), Mike Auer is the highest
decorated professional baseball player of the war not to receive his
award posthumously (Joe Pinder
and Jack Lummus both
received the Medal of Honor after they were killed in action. The US
Navy's equivalent of the DFC was the Navy Cross, awarded to Arnold
Traxler and Tom Woodruff
(posthumously)). Auer's DSC citation reads:
...for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations
against an armed enemy while serving with Company A, 19th Armored
Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division, in action against enemy
forces from 13 to 20 January 1945 near Hatten, France. When his
battalion was forced to withdraw and covering unit was cut off by the
enemy, Captain Auer moved about from group to group under intense enemy
artillery, mortar, and small-arms fire and, organizing and encouraging
the troops with him, did much by his aggressive and fearless leadership
to save the covering force. With the battalion again on the offensive,
Captain Auer manned a machine gun, and, in addition, hurled grenades
into the enemy position and broke up a German attack single-handed.
Then, fighting a rear guard action, he enabled a surrounded and
outnumbered company to withdraw from threatened enemy encirclement.
Captain Auer's heroic leadership, personal bravery and zealous devotion
to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the
United States and reflect great credit upon himself, the 14th Armored
Division, and the United States Army.
With the war in Europe at an end in May 1945, Captain Auer was appointed
Provost Marshall in Munich, Germany. After 19 months of active overseas
duty he returned home to Denver, in July 1946, and began to think again
about baseball. He attended a GI baseball trayout camp in St. Augustine,
Florida, and was signed by the Chicago Cubs for 1947. Assigned to the
Janesville Cubs of the Class D Wisconsin State League, the 27-year-old
hurler appeared in 17 games for a 4-8 won-loss record and 4.74 ERA.
It was to be his only year in professional baseball. Auer returned home
to Denver, where a parade was held in his honor on Armed Services Day,
April 10, 1948, in downtown Denver to receive the DSC. He went on to
work with the Denver Public Schools as a pipefitter/steamfitter for 23
years until his retirement in 1986, at age 65.
Mike Auer died from complications of interstitial lung disease on July
31, 2010. He was 90 years old and is buried at Fort Logan National
Cemetery in Denver.
Date Added January 16, 2018
Can you add more information to this biography and help make it the best online resource for this player? Contact us by email
Read Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice Through The Years - an online year-by-year account of military related deaths of ballplayers
Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice is associated with Baseball Almanac
Baseball's Greatest Sacrifice is proud to be sponsored by
