Fred Chumley
Ballplayers Wounded in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | December 25, 1915 Houston, TX |
| Date and Place of Death: | May 25, 1994 Houston, TX |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | Unknown |
| Military Unit: | US Marine Corps |
| Area Served: | Pacific Theater of Operations |
Fred R. Chumley was born on December 25, 1915, in Houston, Texas. He
signed his first professional contract with the Lake Charles Skippers of
the Class D Evangeline League in 1937, but left the club before making
any appearances. He was back with the Skippers in 1940 and was 20-8 in
35 appearances with a 3.34 ERA. The following season he was 16-9 with a
2.60 ERA for the Skippers and joined the Madison Blues of the Class B
Three-I League in 1942. An all-star selection that year, Chumley had a
12-13 record and 3.42 ERA, enough to earn a call-up to the Louisville
Colonels of the Class AA American Association in the spring of 1943.
The Colonels were not greatly concerned when Chumley was called up for
medical inspection by his draft board. Chumley had suffered two broken
jaws, he had a silver plate in his chin, he had an injured back and a
kidney disorder - the results of an auto accident some years before -
but he was accepted for service and joined the Marine Corps before
pitching a single game for the Colonels.
Chumley served in the Pacific and was wounded during the Saipan campaign
in June/July 1944. He recuperated at Hawaii and soon found himself
managing the Catlin Raider baseball team of the 14th Naval District
League. Chumley won 18 games on the mound for the Raiders and was the
team's top hitter, playing the outfield when not pitching.
Due to his back injury, Chumley was released from service in early 1945
and reported to the Louisville Colonels in his Marines uniform on March
21. He made 13 appearances for the Colonels and was 1-2 with a 5.02 ERA
when he was optioned to the Scranton Miners of the Class A Eastern
League in July. Chumley reported to Scranton just a few hours before a
game with Albany and promptly hurled a 1-0 no-hitter. Only three men
reached first base and Chumley got two of his team's three hits. He
finished the year with a 7-7 record for Scranton.
Chumley was with Louisville for spring training in 1946 but was released
by the club in May and did not play that season. He returned to
professional baseball for one last season in 1947, pitching for the
Gainesville Owls of the Class B Big State League.
Fred Chumley passed away on May 25, 1994, in Houston, Texas. He was 79
years old.
Date Added December 23, 2017
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