Seven Sailors, Seven Seas, and the Saltiest Sluggers: Navy Veterans Who Ruled the Diamond

Baseball season is upon us, and the "Boys of Summer" are back! While the Army might think it owns the rights to America’s pastime, we all know that the best players came from the only branch that knows how to actually hit something—whether it’s a fastball or an enemy position. That’s right, shipmates, we’re talking about the Navy veterans who took their sea legs onto the baseball diamond and left their mark on the Major Leagues. Grab your cup of Old Salt Coffee, hoist a mug, and let’s dive into the legends of baseball who traded their dress blues for pinstripes.

Ted Williams – The Kid Who Flew (and Hit) Everything

If you don’t know who Ted Williams is, stop reading, do 50 push-ups, and report back. Williams wasn’t just a Hall of Fame slugger; he was a Navy-trained aviator who served in both World War II and Korea. While the Marines claim him, let’s be real—the Navy taught him how to fly before he went all Maverick. With a .344 lifetime batting average and 521 home runs, it’s safe to say that Navy precision made him one of the greatest hitters of all time. Plus, he was so good that he interrupted his career twice to serve. Try finding a modern player who’d do that!

Williams wasn’t just a great hitter; he was also known for his legendary eyesight—allegedly 20/10 vision, which made him deadly accurate whether he was tracking a baseball or an enemy fighter in the sky. You can bet that if he had ever played for the Yankees, he would have taken one look at Steinbrenner and told him to walk the plank.

Yogi Berra – From D-Day to Dynasty

Yogi Berra wasn’t just a legendary Yankees catcher and philosopher of the dugout (“It ain’t over till it’s over”); he was also a bona fide war hero. As a Navy gunner’s mate, he stormed the beaches of Normandy at the ripe old age of 19. If you think catching a 100-mph fastball is tough, try landing on Omaha Beach under heavy fire. It’s no wonder he went on to win 10 World Series rings—after facing actual war, a little ninth-inning pressure was nothing.

Berra also had a way with words that could have made even the saltiest Chief Petty Officer proud. His legendary Yogi-isms, like "Baseball is 90 percent mental; the other half is physical," sound a lot like the kind of math they teach you when calculating liberty expiration times.

Bob Feller – The Heater from the Fleet

Bob Feller had a 100-mph fastball before radar guns were even a thing. When World War II started, Feller didn’t wait to be drafted—he enlisted in the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor and served as a gun captain on the USS Alabama. He could probably throw a fastball faster than that ship’s artillery could fire a shell. He went from striking out batters to firing anti-aircraft rounds at enemy planes. After the war, he came back and continued to dominate, proving that Navy-trained reflexes translate pretty well to the mound.

Feller also made sure to put his money where his mouth was. He openly criticized players who dodged military service and always said that serving in the Navy was the best decision he ever made. Maybe that’s because he knew that battleships and baseballs both required precision, teamwork, and the ability to not flinch when something fast and dangerous was coming straight at you.

Jerry Coleman – The Only MLB Player with Combat Medals

Lots of guys served, but only one MLB player can claim both a World Series MVP and actual combat medals. Jerry Coleman was a Marine aviator who flew 120 combat missions in WWII and Korea. Yeah, 120. Meanwhile, your average ballplayer today complains about a long road trip. He returned from war and helped lead the Yankees to multiple championships. He later became a legendary broadcaster, but let’s be honest—after dodging enemy fire in a Corsair, calling a baseball game was probably a relaxing retirement gig.

Coleman had a deep love for both baseball and military service. He once said that landing a plane on an aircraft carrier at night was far more terrifying than facing any pitcher in the big leagues. Given that the closest most MLB players come to danger these days is a rogue sunflower seed in the dugout, he had a point.

Larry Doby – Breaking Barriers in Baseball and the Navy

Larry Doby wasn’t just the second player to break baseball’s color barrier after Jackie Robinson—he was also a Navy veteran. Before making history as the first Black player in the American League, Doby served in the Navy during World War II. His time in service hardened him for the racial barriers he had to smash through in the Major Leagues, where he went on to become a 7-time All-Star and a Hall of Famer.

Doby played a huge role in bringing down racial barriers in baseball, proving that resilience and strength—qualities the Navy hones in every Sailor—could overcome any challenge. And if you think playing center field for the Cleveland Indians was tough, imagine doing it while dealing with discrimination on and off the field.

Ralph Houk – The Major Who Led from the Dugout

Ralph Houk wasn’t just a Yankees catcher and manager; he was a full-blown combat-hardened warrior. Serving as a major in the Army during World War II, he fought in the Battle of the Bulge and earned a Silver Star for bravery. While his military service was with the Army, he spent enough time around Navy ballplayers to be an honorary salty slugger.

Houk later managed the Yankees to multiple championships, proving that the discipline and leadership learned in the military translates perfectly to the dugout. The guy led from the front in combat, so dealing with a bunch of overpaid ballplayers was probably a walk in the park.

Sid Hudson – The Submariner Who Threw Strikes

Sid Hudson spent part of his pitching career interrupted by World War II, where he served in the Navy. As a submariner, he probably learned a thing or two about precision, which explains why he was such a reliable pitcher for the Washington Senators. If you can operate in the tight quarters of a sub and not go insane, throwing a 3-2 pitch with the game on the line is child’s play.

Hudson’s career before and after the war showcased the kind of discipline and toughness the Navy instills in its Sailors. After all, you can’t be afraid to throw inside when you’ve spent years sailing under the ocean in a metal tube.

Final Thoughts: Baseball is Salty—Just Like Us

Baseball is all about endurance, skill, and knowing when to swing for the fences—just like a life at sea. These legends proved that the best training ground for baseball wasn’t just the sandlots—it was the decks of Navy ships and the battlefields where they served. So next time you’re watching a game, remember that some of the greatest players in history wore the uniform not just of their team, but of the U.S. Navy.

Now, hoist a mug, watch some baseball, and remember—just like these legends, the best things in life come with a little salt.

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