Baseball in Wartime - Bill Israel

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Bill Israel

Date and Place of Birth: March 2, 1923 Armington, Illinois

Baseball Experience: Minor League
Position: Pitcher
Rank: Unknown
Military Unit: 9th Air Force HQ USAAF

Area Served: European Theater of Operations

William M. "Bill" Israel graduated from Hittle Township High School in Armington, Illinois. He was a pitcher in the minor leagues before the war. In 1940 he was 8-10 with Brewton of the Alabama State League, and pitched for Tallahassee of the same league the following year.

By 1944, Israel was in England with the 9th Air Force Headquarters, serving with the military police, and took part in an all-star game at Wembley Stadium that year.

Back in the USA in 1946, Israel posted a 12-11 won-loss record with Troy of the Alabama State League and a 12-8 record with Carrollton of the Georgia-Alabama League for a total of 24 wins on the year. The following season, having developed an effective knuckleball, Israel was 16-12 with Troy, but it was to be his last year in professional baseball.

Bill Israel still lives and farms in Armington, Illinois, where he was born.

Updated October 15, 2009.