John Rizner
Ballplayers Wounded in Combat
| Date and Place of Birth: | Jan 25, 1922 Brownville, PA |
| Date and Place of Death: | April 30, 1998 Forest City, PA |
| Baseball Experience: | Minor League |
| Position: | Outfield |
| Rank: | Private First-Class |
| Military Unit: | US Army |
| Area Served: | Pacific Theater of Operations |
John A. "Lefty" Rizner signed with the Bradford Bees, a Boston Braves
farm club in the Class A PONY League, in March 1942. Playing 88 games
his rookie year he batted .311, second only on the club to future big
leaguer Connie Creeden.
Military service beckoned the following year and Rizner joined the army
in February 1943. While serving in New Guinea, in the Pacific, he was
wounded in action and returned to the United States where he spent 13
months in hospital at Valley Forge General Hospital, a military hospital
in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
On April 20, 1945, Rizner was selected to throw out the first pitch at
the Phillies' home opener in front of 2,653 rain-soaked fans. More than
100 patients from the hospital, together with a contingent from the
Naval Hospital, were guests of the Phillies.
Rizman was honorably discharged from military service on August 23,
1945, and returned to the minors with the Leavenworth Braves of the
Class C Western Association, where he batted .307 in 129 games, hitting
13 home runs and driving in 67, while stealing 31 bases. He hit .288
with the Evansville Braves of the Class B Three-I League in 1947, then
spent two seasons with the Saginaw Bears of the Class A Central League.
Rizman ended his professional playing days batting .277 with the Sumter
Chicks of the Class B Tri-State League in 1950, aged 28.
Lefty Rizner, a member of the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame, passed
away on April 30, 1998, aged 76. He was survived by bis wife, Agnes
(they had been married 53 years), and their children John and Gloria. He
is buried at the St Josephs Cemetery in Forest City, Pennsylvania.
Date Added August 26, 2024
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