To steal a quote from the 1993 film The Sandlot: Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.
From the turf, to the ice, to the ring, the word ‘hero’ gets thrown around too often when referring to athletes. Sure, they’re often quality role models that children can look up to, but let’s face it, they’re still just getting paid to participate in a sport they love. They’re not necessarily legends.
But a select few have earned that title over the years – athletes that have competed at the highest professional level and served to protect this great nation’s freedoms. With the Fourth of July on Friday, we thought we’d take a look at some of the athletes who not only provided some of sports’ greatest moments, but also proudly served our country. Some might come as a surprise.
Related: Top Patriotic Moments In Sports History
Ed Miller is a contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @PhillyEdMiller or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
Athletes Who Served
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Bob Feller
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, some people were beginning to enlist while others continued to try and figure out their future. Feller wasted little time making his decision and just two days after the worst attack on American soil, Feller enlisted for active duty – becoming the first MLB player to volunteer. He spent four years as a gunman on the battleship USS Alabama and earned numerous ribbons and battle stars. The future Hall of Famer returned to professional baseball in 1956 and finished his career with a World Series title, a Triple Crown and eight All-Star appearances on his résumé.
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David Robinson
Before two Olympic gold medals, before two NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs, before his MVP award, Robinson was a member of the Naval Academy. Following in his father’s footsteps, Robinson went on to an impressive basketball career at the school and was eventually drafted first overall in the 1987 draft. While he might not have served in combat, he became a Naval Reserve and adopted the nickname “The Admiral” and went on to one of the greatest defensive players of all-time. Clearly, Robinson had that special something that helped him defend both on and off the court.
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Hobey Baker
Baker is a legend in the world of hockey, with his own prestigious arena and National Hockey League Award named after him. He’s also the only athlete in history to be named to the College Football Hall of Fame and the Hockey Hall of Fame. After leading Princeton University to a national championship, Baker enlisted in the Army during World War I and was trained as a pilot. He received several awards for his courageous actions but was sadly killed just after the war while flying a test plane. There’s not too many men in hockey with quite as an inspiring story as he.
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Jerry Coleman
Coleman might not be a household name by today’s standards, but what he was able to accomplish during his career is nothing short of amazing. The Baseball Hall of Fame inductee was the only Major League Baseball player to see combat in two wars – as a Marine aviator in both World War II and the Korean War. He flew in 120 combat missions, was awarded two distinguished Flying Crosses, 13 medals and went on to win four World Series. Not many men can say they’ve done all that.
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Jesse Ventura
Before becoming a World Wrestling Federation champion, before starring in Predator and long before becoming the governor of Minnesota, Ventura was a badass Navy SEAL. He never saw combat, but that shouldn’t take away from his service – and Ventura did earn the Vietnam Service Medal. It’s guys like Ventura, who put themselves at the ready, that are just as important as those on the frontline.
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Joe DiMaggio
From 1942 until 1946, DiMaggio transformed from a three-time Most Valuable Player to a member of the Army Air Force, enlisting to serve his country. He was an education instructor and soon the future Hall of Fame New York Yankee was promoted to the rank of sergeant. By the end of his shortened career, DiMaggio proved he was one of baseball’s greatest – for his bat and his service.
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Joe Louis
There’s a reason the home of the Detroit Red Wings is named Joe Louis Arena. Louis was one of the most influential athletes of the 20th century. Enlisted in the Army, Louis encouraged African Americans to enlist and was eventually awarded the Legion of Merit medal. In the boxing ring, he held the World Heavyweight Title for 12 years – from 1937 to 1949, longer than anyone in history – over the course of 29 championship bouts. And let’s not forget, he broke the color barrier in golf, competing as a member of the PGA in 1952. Louis is truly an inspiration for all colors and one of the greatest athletes ever.
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Pat Tillman
If you look up the word patriot in the dictionary, there’s a picture of Tillman next to it. The Arizona Cardinals’ safety left the NFL eight months after the 9/11 attacks to enlist as an Army Ranger, leaving behind a $3.6 million contract. During his second deployment, Tillman was killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. His No. 40 was soon retired both by the Cardinals and by Arizona State University, where Tillman attended college. He is a true American hero.
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Rocky Bleier
After one season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bleier was drafted into the Army and was soon deployed to Vietnam. Bleier's platoon was ambushed and his right leg was impaled by shrapnel. Doctors told him he would never play football again. But what did he care? Awarded a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, Bleier reported to training camp the following year. When he retired, Bleier had 3,865 rushing yards, 1,294 receiving yards and four championships over his impressive 11-year career. He remains heavily involved with military personnel, thanks to his book and public speaking – truly inspiring.
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Rocky Marciano
There’s a good chance that without the Army, we wouldn’t know Marciano’s name. Drafted in 1943, the future boxing extraordinaire learned his boxing skills while stationed in Wales. He even won an amateur armed forces boxing tournament in 1946. Eventually, he went on to 43 career knockouts, and held the heavyweight title when he retired in 1956. Good thing he wanted to serve his country, or we might have missed out on a true American icon.
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Ted Williams
Perhaps the most notable and well-documented athlete ever to have served, Williams spent two tours as a Marine pilot and lost five years of his professional baseball career with the Boston Red Sox. The first enlistment came in 1942, the year after winning his first Triple Crown, when he served as a flight instructor in World War II. He was called back to duty in 1952, for the Korean War. It was then that he flew in 39 combat missions, all in between 21 years with Boston, where he became a hitting master.
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Yogi Berra
Everybody knows his Yogi-isms, but what many don’t know is that the New York Yankees catcher is a decorated war veteran. Berra was one of the many men involved in the D-Day invasion, serving as a gunner’s mate while stationed off the coast of Normandy Beach on a Navy boat. Not long after, he made his MLB debut and the rest is pretty much history. Just in case you aren’t up-to-date with your history, Berra is probably the greatest catcher of all-time, with three MVPs, 10 World Series titles and 15 All-Star appearances to his name. After D-Day, blocking home plate must’ve seemed like a breeze.
