Alex Danelishen
Ballplayers Wounded in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | May 12, 1925 Cleveland, OH |
| Date and Place of Death: | February 22, 1968 Columbus, OH |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | Corporal |
| Military Unit: | 746th Tank Battalion US Army |
| Area Served: | European Theater of Operations |
Alexander Danelishen, Jr., the son of Russian immigrant parents
Alexander and Anna Danelishen, was born on May 12, 1925, in Cleveland,
Ohio. He was a standout athlete at Lincoln High School in Cleveland, and
was signed, aged 17, by the Cleveland Indians. The right-handed pitcher
was sent to the Wilkes-Barre Barons of the Class A Eastern League, where
he was 13-7 in 27 appearances with a 3.21 ERA for manager Tony Lazzeri.
Danelishen entered military service with the Army in September 1943. He
served as a corporal with Company C of the 746th Tank Battalion in
Europe. The battalion participated in combat operations throughout
northern Europe until V-E Day. Danelishen was awarded the Silver Star
and was wounded in combat.
Danelishen was 21-years-old when he returned to pitch for Wilkes-Barre
in 1946, posting a 10-8 record and 3.09 ERA in 25 appearances. In 1947,
he was 15-8 with the Barons in 32 appearances and had an impressive 2.84
ERA. In October 1947, he was acquired by Oklahoma City Indians of Texas
League, then drafted by Chicago White Sox the following month in Rule V
draft.
During the spring of 1948, Danelishen pitched for the White Sox and his
career seemed to have a promising future. He was assigned to Memphis
Chicks - Chicago's Class AA Southern Association affiliate - but proved
ineffective in eight outings and was sent to the Muskegon Clippers of
the Class A Central League, where he could only manage a 9-7 record and
4.65 ERA.
During the winter of 1948/49, Danelishen pitched for Diablo Heights in
the Canal Zone League, and was with the Quebec Braves of the Class C
Canadian-American League for the regular season, where he was 18-12 with
a 4.68 ERA. In 1950, he was 18-11 with the Braves, and 7-7 in 1951, as
the team moved to the Provincial League. Danelishen was out of baseball
in 1952, but played briefly with the Provincial League's St. Hyacinthe
A's in 1953, and ended his career in 1954 with the Thetford Mines Miners
in the same league.
Alex Danelishen died on February 22, 1968, in Columbus, Ohio. He was 42
years old and is buried at Brooklyn Heights Cemetery, in Brooklyn
Heights, Ohio.
Date Added January 11, 2018
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