Elmer Gedeon
From BR Bullpen
Elmer John Gedeon
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 4", Weight 196 lb.
- School University of Michigan
- Debut September 18, 1939
- Final Game September 24, 1939
- Born April 15, 1917 in Cleveland, OH USA
- Died April 20, 1944 in St. Pol, France
[edit] Biographical Information
Outfielder Elmer Gedeon made his big league debut on September 18, 1939 and played briefly at the tail-end of the season for the Washington Senators, where he became teammates with Buddy Lewis and Dutch Leonard. He appeared in five games with 15 at-bats and 3 base-hits for a .200 average.
He was also in the minors in 67 games for the Orlando Senators of the class D Florida State League in 1939, where he hit .253 with four home runs. Elmer also spent the 1940 season with the Charlotte Hornets of the class B Piedmont League, hitting .271 with eleven home runs.
Gedeon was killed in combat in World War II. A bomber pilot with the 394th BG, USAAF, he was shot down on April 20, 1944. He was piloting a Martin B-26 Marauder that was hit by anti-aircraft fire on a mission from Boreham Airfield, England, to France. Four others died; there was one survivor.
Gedeon was the first of only two major league players to be killed during World War II.
