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World War
II Hero of the Minor Leagues
e for details
Fred Chumley
Date and
Place of Birth:
December 25, 1915 Texas
Died: May 25, 1994 Houston, Texas
Baseball
Experience:
Minor
League
Position:
Pitcher
Rank:
Corporal
Military Unit:
US Marine Corps
Area
Served:
Pacific
Theater of Operations
Fred Chumley was born in Texas on December 25, 1915. He signed
his first professional contract with the Lake Charles Skippers
of the Evangeline League in 1937 but left the club before making
any appearances. He was back with the Skippers in 1940 and was
20-8 with a 3.34 ERA.
In 1941, he was 16-9 for the Skippers and joined Madison 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 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 in 1943. 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.
Chumley served in the Pacific and was wounded during the Saipan
campaign. 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
Scranton of the 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 Gainesville of the Big State League.
Fred Chumley passed away on May 25, 1994 in Houston, Texas.
Created March 28, 2008. Updated June 18, 2008.
Copyright © 2013 Gary Bedingfield (Baseball
in Wartime). All Rights Reserved.