Snipe Hansen
Ballplayers Wounded in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | February 21, 1907 Chicago, IL |
| Date and Place of Death: | September 11, 1978 Chicago, IL |
| Baseball Experience: | Major League |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Rank: | McMM1c |
| Military Unit: | US Navy |
| Area Served: | Pacific Theater of Operations |
Roy E. F. "Snipe" Hansen was born on February 21, 1907, in Chicago,
Illinois. A product of Lake View High School and the sandlots of
Chicago, the 6-foot-3, left-hander was signed by the Cubs in 1927, and
joined the team for spring training at Catalina Island. It was at this
time that he acquired the nickname, Snipe, when the Cubs' veteran
players sent the rookie off to catch snipe for a sumptuous roast that
evening. Hansen waited the entire day and into the evening for the snipe
that would never come; much to the amusement of the other players.
Hansen pitched for the Reading Keystones of the Class AA International
League his rookie season, and was 1-8 with a 6.99 ERA in 34 games. He
joined the Elmira Colonels of the Class B New York-Penn League in 1928,
for a 12-17 record and 4.13 ERA in 37 appearances. He was with the
Dayton Aviators of the Class C Central League in 1929, and joined the
Richmond Roses of the same league in 1930, when his option was picked up
by the Philadelphia Phillies. He was 11-9 with the Roses and was called
up to the Philadelphia Phillies in July 1930, making his debut against
the Braves on the 5th. The 23-year-old made 22 appearances for the
Phillies and was 0-7 with a 6.72 ERA.
Hansen was back in the minors in 1931, pitching for Fort Worth and
Dallas in the Class A Texas League, but returned to the majors with the
Phillies in 1932. He remained with the team until traded to the Senators
in May. The Senators sent him to the Browns, where he pitched his last
games in the major leagues before being returned to the Senators in
July. Hansen continued to pitch in the minor leagues through 1937, but a
string of injuries, including a line drive smash under the eye, ended
his career.
He later worked as a Pullman conductor on the railroad and entered
military service in October 1943. Hansen served as an McMM1c aboard the
LCI9L) 968 Landing Craft Infantry attached to LCI Flotilla 15 of LCI
Group 43 in the Pacific. He was wounded in November 1944 and discharged from service in January 1945.
After the war he worked as the Chicago representative of a New York firm
importing linens.
Snipe Hansen passed away on September 11, 1978, in Chicago, Illinois. He
was 71 years old and is buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.
Date Added January 12, 2018. Updated May 26, 2020
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